Lecture 20: Parsing Complex Sentences by Identifying Subjects and Predicates

20.1 Subject-Predicate Model

20.1.1 Basic Concepts

Subject–Finite Verb Analysis

• Why it helps:
• Long sentences do not always mark every clause boundary with punctuation, so identify each finite verb and its subject;
• Core:
• First find each finite verb phrase, then determine which noun phrase is its subject;
• Common surface patterns:
• 1. subject–finite verb + subject–finite verb;
• 2. subject + embedded subject–finite verb + main finite verb;
• 3. A subject clause followed by the main finite verb;
• Summary:
• 1. A noun + subject–finite verb sequence often signals a relative clause with an omitted object relative pronoun; verify that the embedded clause contains a gap referring to the noun;
• 2. Match each finite verb with its subject before deciding the clause boundaries;

Two Models: Subject-Predicate-Subject-Predicate

• Meaning:
• Each subject–finite verb pair normally belongs to a different clause;
• Use connectives and grammatical roles to determine which clause is main and which is subordinate;
• Method:
• Do not decide main/subordinate status from order alone; check the connective and the role each clause performs;

Two Models: Subject-Subject-Predicate-Predicate

• Meaning:
• The inner subject–finite verb pair forms an embedded clause;
• The outer subject and later finite verb form the containing clause;

20.1.2 Analysis Example

Examples

• The IASB says it does not want to act without overall planning...
• Two finite verbs, divided into two parts;
• Structure: subject-predicate subject-predicate
• Main clause: The IASB says
• Clause: it does not want to act without overall planning. Object clause
• Allen's contribution was to take an assumption we all share…
• Finite verbs: was, share
• Structure: subject-predicate subject-predicate
• Main clause: Allen's contribution was to take an assumption
• Clause: we all share
• Conclusion: we all share is a relative clause with omitted object relative pronoun that, modifying assumption;
• When the court deals with social policy decisions, the law it shapes is inescapably political...
• Finite verbs: deals, shapes, is;
• Punctuation; Conjunction When;
• First segmentation:
• When the court deals with social policy decisions； A finite verb, already broken and completed;
• The law it shapes is inescapably political.; Two finite verbs, shapes and is, need to be further segmented;
• Second segmentation: analyzing subject-predicate
• the law it shapes is inescapably political…
• Structure: subject-subject-predicate
• Clause: it shapes -> modifies the law -> relative clause;
• Main clause: the law... Is inescapably political
• The way consumers now approach the process of making purchase decisions means that marketing's impact stems from a broad range of factors beyond conventional paid media.
• Finite verbs: approach, means, stems
• Connective: that
• First segmentation:
• The way consumers now approach the process of making purchase decisions means -> Two finite verbs that need to be segmented;
• that marketing's impact stems from a broad range of factors beyond conventional paid media.
• Subject-predicate analysis: The way consumers now approach the process of making-purchase decisions means
• Subject of approach: consumers
• Subject of means: The way?!
• Structure: subject-subject-predicate
• Main clause: The way... Means
• Clause: consumers now approach the process of making purchase decisions
• Other: that marketing's impact stems from a broad range of factors beyond conventional paid media

20.2 Inspection Guide

Strategy 1: Use finite verbs to identify the clause skeleton before analyzing non-finite modifiers

• Content:
• Begin with finite verbs; return to non-finite constructions after the clause skeleton is clear;
• Focus on two aspects of finite verbs:
• 1. Location;
• 2. Quantity;
• Example:
• …an inability to consider the big picture was leading decision-makers to be biased by the daily samples of information they were working with.
• Finite verbs: was leading, were working -> Two things, separated into two parts;
• Subject-predicate structure, with the latter part being the relative clause: they were working with

Strategy 2: When searching, look for clauses first; when reading, look at the main clause

• Example:
• The Dutch giant Elsevier, which claims to publish 25% of the scientific papers produced in the world, made profits of more than £900 m last year, while Uk universities alone spent more than ￡210 m in 2016 to enable researchers to access their own publicly funded research...
• Finite verbs: claims, made, spent
• produced is a non-finite past participle modifying papers;
• funded is non-finite here: research being funded;
• Segmentation:
• Main clause: The Dutch giant Elsevier... made profits of more than £900 m last year
• Clause: which claims to publish 25% of the scientific papers produced in the world
• Adverbial clause of contrast: while UK universities alone spent more than £210 million in 2016 to enable researchers to access their own publicly funded research

Strategy 3: Distinguish between main clauses and clauses to help solve and score points

• Opinion questions
• Two Examination Methods:
• The person who expresses the opinion
• No mention of whose it is; all are the author's views;
• Whose name it is, you can find it in the original text;
• Examine the details of the viewpoint
• Example:
• The author believes that the devoted concertgoers___
• The first half is the main clause: The author believes
• The latter is usually a clause: that the devoted concertgoers
• This sentence testes:
• The author's perspective...
• Specific viewpoints within clauses...
• Sentences corresponding to the above question:
• Devoted concertgoers who reply that recordings are no substitute for live performance are missing the point.
• Main clause: Devoted concertgoers... Are missing the point
• Relative clause: who reply that recordings are no substitute for live performance
• The clause contains the audience's viewpoint, while the main clause reflects the author's viewpoint;