160 Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE) The big, fat, ugly bear ate the lunch basket. The big, fat, ugly bear = the complete subject Bear = the simple subject We basically have two phrases together in the subject’s position: an adjective phrase and a noun phrase. The adjective phrase is underlined, and the noun phrase is bolded. However, the complete noun phrase is the same as the complete subject, because all of the adjectives are pointing to the noun as their leader. They describe the bear. Although we could pos- sibly stretch the availability of some constructions in certain positions syn- tactically, at times, some of these are not widely used. As a result, many possible constructions will be omitted, or, if a certain phrase acts in a sub- ordinate position to the complete phrase in which it is included, the con- struction most typically used in the same manner will be demonstrated. There are many included in these diagrams. We will point out the gram- matical peculiarities in addition to other features, which should be taken into account. Noun Phrase as Complement: Subject Complement Noun Phrase Realized by a Noun My friend is the bak er. Det. SC/N He is my friend . Poss. pro. SC/N Noun Phrase Realized by a Verbal They are the beaten. Det. SC/V3 The subservient are whipped . SC/V3 TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 160 161 Syntax and Grammar Noun Phrase Realized by an Adjective He is the first. Det. SC/adj They are the last . Det. SC/adj Noun Phrase Realized by an Adverb The synonym is atrociously. SC/Adv The adverb is stunningly . SC/Adv. Noun Phrases Realized by Prepositions This is at the bottom. Det. SC/ Prep (N) Noun Phrases as Complement of Direct Object (DOc) Noun Phrase Realized by Noun They appointed him the chief. Det. DOc/N He named him the leader . Det. DOc/N Noun Phrase Realized by Verbal They killed the worst, the bludgeoned. Det. DOc/V3 TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 161 162 Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE) They expelled the men, the disgraced. Det. DOc/V3 Noun Phrase Realized by an Adjective He thought her beautiful. DOc/adj He considered it awful . DOc/adj He called him ugly . DOc/adj Noun Phrase Realized by Adverb He termed the approach as cautiously. Det/adv DOc/adv (It was the term/definition he gave to describe the approach.) He redescribed it as surprisingly. Adv DOc/Adv Noun Phrase Realized by Preposition He defined his life as being at the ver y top. Det/Adv; pres. part. Prep + det + adj/adv + prep/n = DOc This construction seems complicated, but it is very common, especially in speech. However, we can view the entire com- plement as an adjectival, one that acts as an adjective when it is not realized by an adjective, much like the verbal, a form of a verb that functions as an adjective. THE : RE N OTE : TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 162 163 Syntax and Grammar Noun Phrases as Complement of Indirect Object (IOc) Noun Phrase Realized by Noun He gave her, the girl, his coat. Det loc/N He handed it to her, his friend . Poss pro. IOc/N Noun Phrase Realized by Verbal I gave respect to her, the dethroned. Det IOc/V3 We gave honor to the men, the fallen. Det IOc/V3 Noun Phrase Realized by Adjective We give respect to the marines, the bold. Det IOc/Adj We give a high place to ourselves, the free. Det IOc/Adj Noun Phrase Realized by Adverb We looked at the DOc realized by an adverb phrase, but this is highly uncommon as an IOc. Usually this construction requires a headword formed from a different part of speech. Noun Phrase Realized by Preposition He gave his time for/to the underprivileged. Prep + det + N = IOc (Not common = under [prep] + adj = N TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 163 164 Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE) Up until this point, we have examined how noun phrases can be real- ized by (1) noun, (2) verbal, (3) adjectival, (4) adverbial, and (5) preposi- tional phrases. Also, we have seen how they function syntactically as (a) subjects, (b) IOs, (c) DOs, and (d) complements that rename a, b, and c in a sentence. Instead of taking this same approach with verb phrases, I will set forth some of the ways in which the verb phrase may function. Here, verbal is usually v3. Noun Phrase Realized by a Verbal Subject The best written (paper) will receive the prize. Adv + V3 S Best is part of the compound subject (two words that form one; therefore, it is hyphenated , which is very common when a word does not function as its normal part of speech syntac- tically). Here, the noun that acts as the headword in this phrase is omitted; this omission is termed ellipsis. The omit- ted word is shown in parentheses. Without the word paper, the underlined word becomes the subject of the sentence. The well-refined have a presence about them. Adv Adj/Verbal Adjective The acclaimed man won the admiration of many. Adj/Verbal She is a censur ed woman. Adj/V3 THE : RE N OTE : TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 164 165 Syntax and Grammar Adverb He wrote fast-paced. Adv/adv + V3 = Adv Things went swimmingly . Pres prog verb + ly = adv Adjective Phrase Adjective Phrases as Subject Adjective Phrase Realized by Noun The Mercedes (car) is well built. S/N-adj (S/N) The American (man) is strong. S/N-adj (S/N) A (stucco) house is cheap. Or: A house of stucco . . . Adj/N S/N We cannot write A stucco is cheap. So, stucco is the complete adjective phrase that modifies the headword of the noun phrase stucco house. Stucco is a noun, but it functions as an adjective when it precedes another noun. Most often, a noun that functions as an adjective cannot do so unless it is positioned before the noun it describes or immediately thereafter. Sometimes, the two nouns are interchangeable. At times, we make it pos- sessive. Examples: house frame The doorknob, the door’s knob (Not: the knobdoor or the knob’s door), the paper shredder, the paper’s shredder, the cement mix, the mix of cement, the boy wonder, the wonder boy. TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 165 166 Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE) Adjective Phrases Realized by Verbals A blurted word has consequences. Adj/v3 S The blurted has consequences. S/v3 Notice how the word changed functions when we took out the noun word. Adjective Phrases Realized by Adjectives Being popular is not a bad thing. Verbal + adj = S Some adjectives are somewhat active in the sense that a per- son, or a living thing with a will, can change behavior when the adjective is used to describe the noun in question. For example: He is being nice. She is being courteous. I would not, on the other hand, write The storm is being bad . The storm has no ability to will or desire itself to change. Therefore, we write The storm is bad. Being the best is not that important. Verbal Det Adj = S (Being) Sweet is a wonderful attribute. S/Adj Sweets will rot one’s teeth. S/Adj + s = plural THE : RE N OTE : TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 166 167 Syntax and Grammar Some adjectives as nouns are commonly declined in terms of singular and plural. This is true in colloquial usage. Adjective Phrases Realized by Adverbs The smartly run race is the best. Adj/adv adj/V3 = adj. with verbal as headword The well-beha ved child is a blessing. Adv adj/V3 = adj. Adjective Phrase Realized by a Preposition Under-the-table dealings are not tolerated. Prep det obj = PP Pp = adj. Describing the S/gerund He is a behind-the-back operator. Prep-det-obj = PP = adj desc. SC Adjective Phrases as DO: Adjective Phrases Realized by Noun N = Adj (compound) I hate surprise parties. Adj/n DO/n _____DO_____ I bought a pretty ashtr ay Adj/N DO/N It is common to compound a noun and the noun it describes. THE : RE N OTE : THE : RE N OTE : TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 167 168 Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE) Adjective Phrases Realized by Verbals I detest the unreserved stranger. Adj/verbal If we take out the headword stranger, unreserved can function as the DO. I use only distilled (water). Adj/Verbal: Can be DO without water. Adjective Phrases Realized by Adjectives I took in the old (people). DO/adj We help the meek (animals). DO/adj Adjective Phrase Realized by Adverb I caught the furtively thrown (glance). Adj/adv + V3 or DO/adv + V3 I shunned the pr eviously embraced (ideals). Adj/adv + V3 or DO/adv + V3 With most of the constructions we have seen involving an Adv + V3, the function can be twofold: THE : RE N OTE : THE : RE N OTE : TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 168 169 Syntax and Grammar 1. The Adv + V3 without noun = DO (nominal function regardless of syntactic positioning). 2. The Adv + V3 + N = (Adv + V3 = adjectival function) It is important to notice the function a phrase takes on in its place in the sentence, because the presence of an additional word or the loss there- of changes meanings and functions, not to mention punctuation in certain structures. Adjective Phrase Realized by Prepositional Phrase I always assist the down-and-out (people). Adj/prep + prep or DO/prep + prep He employs the o ver and under (style). Adj/prep + prep or DO/prep + prep Adjective Phrases as IO Adjective Phrases Realized by Nouns I traded John to the ball (team). Adj/N I saved some cake for the baseball players. Adj/N Adjective Phrases Realized by Verbals The money is also given to the undeserving (population). IO/verbal or adj/verbal The manager gave the position to the best-suited (applicant) . IO/verbal or adj/verbal Both examples can be the IO without the inclusion of the final noun. TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 169 . 160 Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE) The big, fat, ugly bear ate the lunch basket. The big, fat, ugly bear = the complete subject Bear = the simple subject. bludgeoned. Det. DOc/V3 TOEFL Internals flowed 7/13/07 3:36 PM Page 161 162 Ace the TOEFL Essay (TWE) They expelled the men, the disgraced. Det. DOc/V3 Noun