Modifications of Basic Clause Patternssentences is typically an indefinite NP. Indefinite NPs typically represent
information that is assumed to be new to the audience, and typically is
placed later in sentences. Old information is generally expressed early in a
sentence, often in the subject. Topics are generally old information, and so
are frequently expressed in the subject phrase. Obviously, discourse must
have ways of introducing new topics, and existential there sentences, by
placing the new topic after the verb, are a natural way of accomplishing
this. They are also used to assert the existence of entities and to summarize
information (Huckin and Pesante 1988).
Exercise
- Identify the DS and SS of:
a. There is a house in New Orleans.
b. There is a god.
c. There may have been water on Mars. - Apply there insertion to:
a. A solution is available.
b. A skeleton was in the closet.
c. Pilgrims may have been here in the past.
passive.
We introduced the passive voice in various other chapters, so here we begin
with a functional description:
(43) Subject Be Ven (Agentive phrase)Passive sentences include some form of the verb be followed by a verb in its
past participle form. Passives may include an agentive (by) phrase. Formally
they consist of:
(44) NP AUX [VPV+en (by NP)]For example:
(45) a. The children were fed by the baby-sitter.
b. The pretzels were eaten by the mice.
c. The children were fed.