2.1 Clauses
Language is a powerful and effective way that humans have for communicating with each other. We can use words as well as just sounds and gestures to express ourselves. However words cannot be used randomly. In order to make sense we use words in a structured way to get our message across, assigning functions and meanings to them. Different languages use different words and are structured in different ways.
In English the basic unit of conveying meaning is the clause. This is because it allows us to express our experiences of the world by providing information about the main aspects of our experiences in a meaningful way, in a way that will be understood by, and make sense to, others.
Three main aspects of our experiences are:
- what is happening: physical activities, mental activities, states of being and having
- who (or what) is taking part in these activites: people, places, animals, things or ideas and sometimes
- the circumstances surrounding these activities (when? where? how? why? etc)
2.1.1 what is happening
'Doings', 'happenings', 'beings' and 'havings' are central to our experiences. The words we use to express these events are called verbs or verb groups which are also central to the clause.
e.g. laughs; will be singing; thought; am; has been running; must be sleeping; walked; is growing; has been; have.
Without a verb or verb group there is only a phrase or sentence fragment.
2.1.2 who (or what) is taking part in these activites
The people, places, animals, things and ideas involved in these happenings are represented by nouns or noun groups (which include adjectivals), and/or pronouns.
e.g. a cat; truth and beauty; John Jones; the beach; a sharp pair of scissors; eyes; Sydney; a fierce dog with a beautiful tail; he; she; you.
2.1.3 the circumstances surrounding these activities
Details of the circumstances in which the events are taking place are expressed through different types of verb describers which are often adverbials.
e.g. adverbs and adverbial groups: tomorrow; very slowly
prepositional phrases: down by the stream
noun phrases: the next day