Syntactic Analysis of Sentences: A Comprehensive Guide

Posted on Oct 12, 2024 in Training and Employment Advise

Syntactic Analysis

To analyze a sentence syntactically, we first identify the verb. Ask “Who performs the action of the verb?” The answer is the subject. The rest is automatically the predicate.

Subject Phrase

The subject phrase consists of:

  • Nucleus (N): Always a noun, pronoun, or infinitive.
  • Determinant (Det.): Any kind of determiner: article, possessive, demonstrative, etc. It goes with the noun.
  • Adjective (Adj.): An adjective that modifies the noun.
  • Apposition (App.): A noun that is not preceded by a preposition.
  • Complement of the Noun (CN): A group of words that accompanies the nucleus (normally a preposition and a noun).

Predicate Phrase

The predicate phrase consists of:

  • Nucleus (N): A verb.
  • Direct Complement (CD): To find the direct object, use these methods:
    • Replace it with the pronouns: lo, la, los, las.
    • It becomes the subject of the passive sentence.
    Example: “Slippers”: Ask “What is what?”
  • Direct Object Supplement: Never has a preposition.
  • Personal Direct Object: Takes the preposition “to.”
  • Indirect Complement (CI): To find it, use this method:
    • Substitute the pronouns le, les. It always takes the preposition “to,” sometimes “for.” It can never be the subject in a passive sentence or be replaced by the pronouns lo, la, los, las.
    Example: “Slippers”: Ask “To whom?” or “For whom?”
  • Situational Complement (CC): There are several types, identified with specific questions:
    • Place (CCL): Ask the verb “Where?” Can be an adverb of place.
    • Time (CCT): Ask the verb “When?” May be preceded by a preposition or be an adverb of time.
    • Manner (CCM): Ask the verb “How?” Can be an adverb of manner.
    • Cause (CCCau): Ask the verb “Why?”
    • Purpose (CCF): Ask the verb “What for?”
    • Company (CCCom): Ask the verb “With whom?”
    • Instrument (CCI): Ask the verb “With what?”
    • Matter (CCMat): Ask the verb “About what?”
    • Amount (CCC): Ask the verb “How much?”
    • Negation (CCNeg): When there is a negative particle.
    • Affirmation (CCA): When there is an affirmative particle.
    If a circumstantial complement doesn’t fit the above, it’s simply (CC).

Active Sentence

  • Subject: Performs the action of the verb (agent subject).
  • Verb: May be:
    • Copulative (ser, estar, parecer)
    • Predicative (any other verb)
    These verbs can be in simple or compound tenses.
  • When there’s no subject, verbs are usually related to weather (rain, thunder, lightning, hail).

Passive Sentence

  • Subject: Receives the action of the verb (patient subject).
  • Verb: Always compound, consisting of a copulative auxiliary verb (ser, estar, parecer) + the past participle of the conjugated verb. Takes a complement “by.” Can take circumstantial complements but never CD, CI, or C. Attribute.

Personal Pronouns

  • Only CD: lo, la, los, las.
  • Only CI: le, les.
  • Can be CD or CI: me, te, nos, os.
  • If no CD, it is CD.
  • If CD exists, it is CI.

Types of Sentences

  • Copulative: The verb is always a copula (ser, estar, parecer). The copula has no meaning, linking the subject and predicate. Can have attributive and circumstantial complements, but never CD or CI. Replace the C. Attribute with the pronoun “it” or “that.”
  • Reciprocal: Two or more individuals perform and receive the same action. Example: John and Miguel write to each other.
  • Reflexive: The subject performs and receives the action. Example: John combs his hair.

Values and Uses of the Pronoun “se”

  • Reflexive Direct: The action performed by the subject rests with the subject. Its function is CD if there’s no other CD in the sentence.
  • Reflexive Indirect: The action performed by the subject rests with the subject. Its function is CI when there is a CD in the sentence.
  • Reciprocal: When the subject is plural and performs the same action simultaneously, towards each other. Function: CD if no other CD exists, CI when a CD exists.
  • False “se”: When the CD (le) and CI (les) are pronominalized, the pronoun “se” replaces le. Its function is CI.
  • Passive Reflexive: Only possible in 3rd person singular or plural. The subject agrees with the verb in number. Usually an individual thing receives the action. Can go before or after the verb. No specific function; it’s a passive reflexive morpheme.
  • Impersonal Reflexive: Only possible in 3rd person singular or plural. The subject agrees with the verb. No grammatical subject. If it has a CD, it’s an impersonal sentence. With intransitive verbs and no CD, it has no function.
  • Pronominal Verb: Verbs like jactarse, atreverse, venirse… cannot exist without a pronoun. The pronoun “se” is part of the verb. It can be dative, ethical, or lexical.

Sentence Classification

  • Simple/Compound: Simple when they have one verb, compound when they have two or more.
  • Unimembre/Bimembre: Unimembre when formed by a single phrase (impersonal sentences lacking a subject). Bimembre when they consist of two phrases (even if the subject is elliptical).
  • Meaning: Declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, etc.
  • Affirmative/Negative
  • Active/Passive: Active when they have an active verb, passive when the verb is in the passive voice.
  • Transitive/Intransitive: Transitive verbs have a CD, intransitive verbs do not.
  • Copulative/Predicative: Copulative sentences use a copula (ser, estar, parecer) and an attribute. Predicative sentences use any other verb.
  • Personal/Impersonal: Personal when there is a subject (explicit or implicit), impersonal when there is no subject.