Survey of English Grammar Wiki: Predicate: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
In English, clauses always have a VP predicate, however, this VP can also contain a semantically vacuous verb, such as the copula <code>be</code>, and an AP, NP, or PP (i.e. a predicative complement). | In English, clauses always have a VP predicate, however, this VP can also contain a semantically vacuous verb, such as the copula <code>be</code>, and an AP, NP, or PP (i.e. a predicative complement). | ||
Example: with a VP predicate (a), and an AuxP predicate (b) | Example: with a VP predicate (a), and an AuxP predicate (b) | ||
(a) _S_ (b) _S_ | (a) _S_ (b) _S_ | ||
Revision as of 19:27, 26 May 2018
The Predicate
Every clause contains a predicate. The predicate is the highest VP (or AuxP) in a clause.
In English, clauses always have a VP predicate, however, this VP can also contain a semantically vacuous verb, such as the copula be, and an AP, NP, or PP (i.e. a predicative complement).
Example: with a VP predicate (a), and an AuxP predicate (b)
(a) _S_ (b) _S_
/ \ / \
/ pred / pred
/ \ / \
NP ____VP___ NP ______AuxP____
/__\ /_________\ /__\ /______________\
Pat read a book. Pat will read a book.