University of Cagliari

Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

Structural Grammar
Course Materials: Examples of Box Diagrams
Lecturer: Daniela Francesca Virdis

Since she wanted to go home early, she finished her work very quickly.
S - Complex Sentence
Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link :
Subord

Since
FM

Su :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro

she
FM

P : VP

Main cl : Fin. cl

Su :
NP
H:
PC :
A:
P : VP
Pers.
NP Adv.P
pro
H:
LV
H:N
Adv
to go home early she
FM FM FM
FM
FM
DO : Nfin. cl

LV

wanted
R
IS
{want
ed1}

P : VP

DO : NP

LV

finished
R
IS
{finish
ed1}

A : Adv.P

Det :
Poss.
pro

H:
N

Prem
:
Adv

her
FM

work
FM

very
FM

H : Adv

quickly
R
DS
{quick
ly}

While I was waiting for Mary, it started to rain heavily.

S - Complex Sentence
Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link :
Subord

Su :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro

Main cl : Fin. cl

P : VP
Prim.
aux

A : PP
LV

Prepos
:P

Prepos.
C : NP

Su :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro

P : VP
LV

H:N
While
FM

I
FM

was
waiting
R
IS
R
IS
{{be
wait
ed1}
ing1

for
FM

Mary
FM

it
FM

started
R
IS
{start
ed1

PC : Nfin. cl
P:
VP
LV
to
rain
FM

A : Adv.P
H : Adv
heavily
R

DS
{heavy
ly}

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

The tall woman in the dark coat opened her umbrella and walked out of the building into the rain.
S - Compound Sentence (1st part)
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su : NP
P : VP
Det :
Def. art

Prem :
Adj

H:N

Pom : PP
Prepos
:P

The
FM

tall
FM

woman
FM

in
FM

DO : NP
Det :
Poss.
H:N
pro

LV

Prepos. C : NP
Prem : H :
Det :
Def. art
Adj
N
the
dark
coat
FM
FM
FM

opened
R
IS
{open
ed1}

her
FM

umbrella
FM

S - Compound Sentence (2nd part)

Link :
Coord

Main cl : Fin. cl
P : VP
LV

and
FM

walked
R
IS
{walk
ed1}

A : PP
Prepos :
P

out
FM

of
FM

A : PP

Prepos. C : NP
Det : Def.
art
the
FM

Prepos :
P

H:N
building
R
DS
{build
ing2}

into
FM H
in

to

Prepos. C : NP
Det : Def.
art
the
FM

H:
N
rain
FM

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

Villona returned quietly to his piano and played sonatas for the younger guests, while the ladies
who were sitting round the table talked loudly.
S - Complex Sentence (1st part)
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su : NP
P : VP
A : Adv.P
A : PP
H:N
LV
H : Adv
Prepos : P
Prepos. C : NP
Det : Pos. pro H : N
Villona
returned
quietly
to
his
piano
FM
R
IS
R
DS
FM
FM
FM
return {-ed1} quiet {-ly}
S - Complex Sentence (2nd part)
Link :
Coord

and
FM

Main cl : Fin. cl
P : VP

DO : NP

LV

H:N

played
IS
{play
ed1}
R

BO : PP
Prepos :
P

sonatas
R
IS
{sonata
s1}

Prepos. C : NP
Det : Def.
art
the
FM

for
FM

Prem : Adj

H:N

younger
R
IS
{young
er}

guests
R
IS
{guest
s1}

S - Complex Sentence (3rd part)

Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link :
Subord

Su : NP
Det
:
Def.
art

H:N

Pom : Fin. cl
Su :
NP
H:
Rel.
pro

while
FM

the
FM

P : VP
Prim.
aux

P : VP

A:
Adv.P

LV

H : Adv

A : PP
LV

ladies
who
were
sitting
R
IS FM R IS R
IS
{{{sit
lady
be
s1}
ed1}
ing1}

Prepos Prepos. C :
:P
NP

round
FM

Det
:
H:
Def.
N
art
the table
FM FM

talked
loudly
R
IS
R DS
{{loud
talk
ed1}
ly}

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

Peter was extremely anxious that Friday morning, as could be seen from the fact that he had cut himself twice while shaving.
S - Complex Sentence (1st part)
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su : NP
P : VP
Su. Attr : AP
A : NP
H:N
LV (Cop)
Prem : Adv
H : Adj Det : Dem. pro Prem : N H : N
Peter
was
extremely
anxious
that
Friday morning
R
IS
R
DS
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
be {-ed1} extreme {-ly}
S - Complex Sentence (2nd part)
Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Su :
Subord

P : VP
Mod. aux

Prim.
aux

PC : PP
LV

Prepos
:P

Prepos. C : NP
Det
:
Def.
art

H:
N

Pom : S
Link :
Subord

as
FM

could
R
IS
{can
ed1}

be
FM

seen
R
IS
{see
ed2}

from
FM

the
FM

fact
FM

that
FM

Main cl : Fin. cl
Su :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro
he
FM

P : VP

DO : NP

Prim. aux

LV

had

cut

Sec. cl : Nfin. cl
A:
Link :
Adv.P Subord

H : Selfpro

H:
Adv

himself
FM FM

twice
FM

IS
R
IS
{{have
cut
him self
ed1}
ed2}

P : VP
LV

while
FM

shaving
R
IS
{shave
ing1}

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

She tried to persuade me that she hadnt done it, but I described the event with great accuracy so
that she thought I had actually observed them.
S - Complex Sentence (1st part)
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro

She
FM

P : VP

PC : Nfin. cl

LV

P : VP

DO :
NP

LV

H:
Pers.
pro

tried
to persuade
IS FM
FM
{try
ed1}

PC : Fin. cl
Link :
Subord

Su :
NP

that
FM

H:
Pers.
pro
she
FM

me
FM

P : VP (1st
half)

A:
P : VP
Adv.P (2nd half)

Prim. aux
had
R

IS
{have
ed1}

H.
Adv
not
FM

LV
done
IS
{do
ed2}
R

DO :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro
it
FM

S - Complex Sentence (2nd part)

Link :
Coord

Main cl : Fin. cl
Su : NP
H : Pers.
pro

but
FM

I
FM

P : VP

DO : NP
Det : Def.
H:
art
N

LV

described
R
IS
{describe
ed1}

the
FM

A : PP
Prepos :
P

event
FM

with
FM

Prepos. C : NP
Prem :
Adj
great
FM

H:N
accuracy
FM

S - Complex Sentence (3rd part)

Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link :
Complex
Subord

so
FM

that
FM

Su :
NP

P : VP

H:
Pers.
pro

LV

she
FM

thought
R
IS
{think
ed1}

DO : Fin. cl
Su :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro
I
FM

P : VP (1st
half)
Prim. aux
had
R
have

IS
{ed1}

A : Adv.P

H. Adv

P : VP (2nd
half)
LV

actually
observed
R
DS
R
IS
{{actual
observe
ly}
ed2}

DO :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro
them
FM

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

While the young man was sitting with her on the side of the bed, the maid came to the door and said
the boss wanted to see him immediately.
S - Complex Sentence (1st part)
Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link :
Subord

Su : NP
Det
:
Def.
art

Prem
: Adj

P : VP
H:
N

Prim.
aux

A : PP

A : PP

Prepos Prepos. Prepos

:P
C : NP
:P

LV

Prepos. C : NP
Det
:
Def.
art

H:
Pers.
pro

H:
N

Pom : PP
Prepos
:P

While
FM

the
FM

young man
FM
FM

was
sitting
R IS R
IS
{{sit
be
ed1}
ing1}

Su : NP

with
FM

her
FM

on
FM

the
FM

side
FM

of
FM

Prepos. C
: NP
Det
:
H:
Def. N
art
the bed
FM FM

S - Complex Sentence (2nd part)

Main cl : Fin. cl
P : VP
A : PP

Det : Def. art H : N

LV

Prepos : P

Prepos. C : NP
Det : Def. art H : N

the
FM

Link : Coord
P : VP
LV

and
FM

said
R
IS
say {-ed1}

maid
FM

came
R
IS
come {-ed1}

to
FM

the
FM

door
FM

S - Complex Sentence (3rd part)

Main cl : Fin. cl
DO : S
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su : NP
Det : Def. art H : N
the
boss
FM
FM

PC : Nfin. cl

P : VP
P : VP
LV
LV
wanted
to see
R
IS
FM FM
want {-ed1}
5

DO : NP
H : Pers. pro
him
FM

A : Adv.P
H : Adv
immediately
R
DS
immediate {-ly}

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

If I am not mistaken this is Brighton, so we will reach London in an hour, if there are no further
delays, like the one we had yesterday.

Link :
Subord

If
FM

S - Complex Sentence (1st part)

Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Main cl : Fin. cl
A:
Su. Attr :
Su : NP
P : VP
Su. Attr : AP
Su : NP
P : VP
Adv.P
NP
H : Pers.
LV
H : Dem.
LV
H : Adv
H : Adj
H:N
pro
(Cop)
pro
(Cop)
I
am
not
mistaken
this
is
Brighton
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
R
IS
R IS
{be {mistake
ed2}
s3}

S - Complex Sentence (2nd part)

Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link : Subord
Su : NP
P : VP
DO : NP
H : Pers. pro Mod. aux LV
H : N Prepos : P
so
FM

we
FM

will
FM

reach London
FM
FM

in
FM

A : PP
Prepos. C : NP
Det : Indef. art H : N
an
hour
FM
FM

S - Complex Sentence (3rd part)

Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link :
Subord

Su :
P:
Ex.
VP
there
LV

Notional Su : NP
Det :
Quant

Prem :
Adj

H:N

Pom : PP
Prepos
:P

Prepos. C : NP
Det
:
H:
Def. Pro
art

if
FM

there are
FM FM

no
FM

like
FM

further
delays
R IS
R
IS
{{far
delay
er}
s1}

the
FM

Su :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro
one we
FM FM

Pom : Fin. cl

P : VP

A:
Adv.P

LV

H : Adv

had

yesterday
FM

IS
{have
ed1}

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

It was my mother who was responsible for all this (Cleft Sentence)
S - Simple Sentence
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su. :
NP
H:
Pers.
pro

P : VP
LV
(Cop)

SA : NP
Det :
Pos.
pro

H:N

Pom : Fin. cl
Su. :
NP
H:
Rel.
pro

P : VP
LV
(Cop)

SA : AP
H:A

Pom : PP
Prepos
:P

Prepos. C : NP
Det :
Quant

It
FM

was
R
IS
{be
ed1}

my
FM

mother
FM

who
FM

was
R
IS
{be
ed1}

responsible
FM

for
FM

all
FM

H:
Dem.
pro
this
FM

What the children need is discipline (Pseudo Cleft Sentence)

DO : NP
H : Int. pro
What
FM

S - Complex Sentence
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su : Fin. cl
Su : NP
P : VP
Det : Def. art
H:N
LV
the
children
need
FM
R
IS
FM
child
{-s1}

P : VP
LV (Cop)

SA : NP
H:N

is

discipline
FM

R
be

IS
{-s3}

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

I do water the ground in knots, as I go, like a great garden-pot, you may follow me by the Ss I make
(Ben Jonson, Bartholomew Fair II, 2, 48-49).

Su : NP
H : Pers.
pro

S - Complex Sentence (1st half)

S - Complex Sentence
Main cl : Fin. cl (1st half)
Sec. cl : Fin. cl
Link :
P : VP
DO : NP
A : PP
Su : NP
Subord
Prim.
Det :
Prepos : Prepos. C :
H : Pers.
LV
H:N
aux
Def. art
P
NP
pro

Main cl : Fin. cl (2nd half)

P:
VP
LV

A : PP
Prepos :
P

H:N
I
FM

do
FM

water
FM

the
FM

ground
FM

in
FM

as
FM

knots
R
IS
{knot s1}

I
FM

go
FM

like
FM

Prepos. C : NP
Det :
Indef. art
a
FM

Prem :
Adj
great
FM

H:N
garden-pot
FM
FM
garden pot

S - Complex Sentence (2nd half)

S - Simple Sentence
Main cl : Fin. cl
Su : NP
P : VP
DO : NP
A : PP
H : Pers. pro Mod. aux
LV
H : Pers. pro Prepos : P
Prepos. C : NP
Det : Def. art
H:N
Postm : Fin. cl
Su : NP
P : VP
H : Pers. pro
LV
you
may
follow
me
by
the
Ss
I
make
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
FM
R IS
FM
FM
S {-s1}

English Language 1 - Theoretical Part

List of Abbreviations in Structural Grammar

(adapted from F. Aarts and J. Aarts, 1982, English Syntactic Structures: Functions and Categories in
Sentence Analysis, Pergamon, Oxford)
Functions
A
BO
Det
Dim
DO
H
IO
Link
Main cl
OA
P
PC
Pom
Prem
Prepos
Prepos. C
SA
Sec. cl
Su

Categories
Adj
AP
Adv
Adv. P
C. num
Coord
Cop
Def. art
Dem. pro
Ex. There
Fin. cl
Indef. art
Int. pro
LV
Mod. aux
N
Nfin. cl
NP
O. num
Pers. pro
Poss. pro
P
PP
Pri. aux
Quant
Rec. pro
Rel. pro
S
Self-pro
Subord
Vless cl
VP

Adverbial
Benefactive Object
Determiner
Discontinuous Modifier
Direct Object
Head
Indirect Object
Linker
Main Clause
Object Attribute
Predicator
Predicator Complement
Postmodifier
Premodifier
Prepositional
Prepositional Complement
Subject Attribute
Secondary Clause
Subject

Adjective
Adjective Phrase
Adverb
Adverb Phrase
Cardinal Numeral
Coordinator
Copula
Definite Article
Demonstrative Pronoun
Existential There
Finite Clause
Indefinite Article
Interrogative Pronoun
Lexical Verb
Modal Auxiliary
Noun
Non-Finite Clause
Noun Phrase
Ordinal Numeral
Personal Pronoun
Possessive Pronoun
Preposition
Prepositional Phrase
Primary Auxiliary
Quantifier
Reciprocal Pronoun
Relative Pronoun
Sentence
Self-Pronoun
Subordinator
Verbless Clause
Verb Phrase