Understanding Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Nouns, and Adjectives
Adverbs
- Semantics: Adverbs provide words that accompany different notions, such as time.
- Deictic: Adverbs allude to a reality situated in time or space in relation to a particular benchmark.
- Anaphora: If indexicals are characterized by extra-linguistic reference, adverbs refer to a reference within their own linguistic context.
Morphology
Adverbs are characterized as unchanged linguistic units, not admitting any flexion of gender and number. They accept derivational morphemes and grade.
- Derivational Morphemes: A suffix is attached to the lexeme, and the derived adverb provides connotations of affect, humor, or contempt.
- Morphemes of Degree: Certain adverbs support the comparative and superlative degree.
- Comparison: less closely, further, sooner
- Superlative: very close, very little
Adverbial Phrases
Adverbial phrases are expressions of two or more words that express notions of time, place, manner, etc., and are equivalent to an adverb (e.g., “without rhyme or reason”).
Syntax
The adverb performs several functions. The main ones are:
- Circumstantial Complement: Adverbs complement the verb and express time, place, mode, quantity, order, affirmation, negation, or doubt.
- Complement to an Adjective or Adverb
Prepositions
Morphology
Prepositions are invariant units that, like adverbs, do not admit morphemes of gender and number.
a, before, under, with, it, against, from, during, in, between, to, toward, through, for, by, according to, without, on, after
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositional phrases are formed by a preposition and a noun.
Semantics
Prepositions are empty words because they lack their own meaning. In the company of other semantic elements, they take on different values.
Syntax
Prepositions play no syntactic function. They are relational words that join words or phrases, so that one becomes a complement of the other: CN, CA, CADV, CV.
Conjunctions
Morphology
Conjunctions are invariant units, i.e., they do not depend on gender, number, or other characteristics of the related words.
Structure:
- Simple: Composed of one word
- Compound: Formed by the union of several words
- Conjunctive Phrase: A group of words equivalent to a conjunction
Semantics
Some conjunctions have no meaning, and sometimes they have a small semantic value.
Syntax
Conjunctions have the function of linking.
Classification of Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions
- Copulative: Linking words or propositions, adding their meanings (and, nor)
- Dichotomous: Linking elements that are excluded (or, either)
- Distributive: Alternative actions that are not mutually exclusive (one another, there, here, already)
- Adversative: An opposition between two actions (but, however, nevertheless, yet)
- Explanatory: A clarification of something (i.e., this is, more)
Subordinating Conjunctions
- Completive: Introduce substantive constructs (that, if)
- Final: Introduce the intention for something to occur (so that, that)
- Causal: Indicate the reason for the above (because, as, and)
- Consecutive: Introduce the result expressed (then, with that)
- Conditional: Show the condition for something to be fulfilled (if, whenever, so)
- Concessive: Make an objection that does not preclude the fulfillment of a fact (although, despite)
Nouns
Structure
Nouns can be simple, compound, derivative, parasynthetic, or acronyms.
Syntax
The kernel can perform different syntactic functions (subject, CD, CI, Ag, Cr).
Semantics
Nouns are divided into common, abstract, and concrete; countable and uncountable; individual and group. They can also be anthroponyms, toponyms, or diminutives.
Adjectives
Structure
- Gender: Variable or invariable
- Structure: Simple, derived, composite
- Grade: Positive, comparative, superlative (relative, absolute)
Syntax
Adjectives can function as CN (complement of the noun), subject complement, attribute, or predicative complement.
Semantics
Adjectives can be specific (placed after the noun) or explanatory (placed before the noun).
Pronouns
Morphology
Pronouns have morphemes of gender, number, and person.
Syntax
Pronouns have the same functions as nouns.
Semantics
Pronouns refer to a person, thing, or event without naming it. There are several types, including:
- Personal: Refer to the people in the dialogue
- Relative: Replace a noun and relate statements