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Grammatical functions
• Each type of phrase performs one or more
grammatical functions in a sentence
• There are 5 grammatical functions:
subject, verb, object, complement, adverbial
Subject
• Noun/pronoun phrase
• Subordinate clauses
– Finite What we can offer is competitive prices
– Non-finite Travelling abroad is fascinating
• The subject can be extraposed.
– It was a big mistake for me to come here
– It is said that profits may not be a reward for being
enterprising but…
In this case there will be two subject slots:
1. anticipatory it
2. finite and non finite clauses
Verb
• Verb phrase
• The class of the lexical verb determines whether
there will be an object (or two objects – direct and
indirect) and/or a complement.
–
–
–
–
–
Intransitive S + V I walk
Intensive S + V + C I am Australian
Mono-transitive S + V + dO I sell computers
Di-transitive S + V + iO + dO I sold her a computer
Complex-transitive S + V + dO + C I find English exciting
Object
• Direct – the person or thing directly affected
• Indirect – the recipient
The object function can be performed by
• Noun/pronoun phrases (dO)
– I sold my computer/it
• Noun/pronoun/prepositional phrases (iO)
– I sold Giulia/her my computer
– I sold I sold my computer to Giulia
• Finite/non finite subordinate clauses
–
–
–
–
We think (that) you are taking the right decision
I know who sent you the flowers
I like swimming
He tried to ring you all day
• Most transitive verbs can be used in the
passive voice
• Di-transitive verbs allow two constructions
– Richard’s parents gave Sara a warm welcome
iO
dO
– Sara was given a warm welcome by Richard’s
parents
– A warm welcome was given to Sara by Richard’s
parents
Translation problems
• Mostly related to the use of an objective,
impersonal style in specialized registers, both in
English and Italian
• English:
– passive
• Italian:
– passive (with essere or venire)
– si-passivante the object becomes the subject of the
verb, which agrees with it
La gente mangia i gelati (obj)
Si mangiano i gelati (subj)
Translation strategies Eng>Ita
Active to passive
• Active (imperative) > Modal passive form
When returning the product, include your full name, address and an
explanation of the defect
Il prodotto deve essere accompagnato dalle vostre generalità complete di
indirizzo, indicando il difetto.
• Active > passive (essere/venire)*
The display will show the remaining time
Sul display viene indicato il tempo rimanente
• Modal active > modal passive
You can view the clock is the system is in Standby mode
L’orologio può essere visualizzato se il sistema è in …
* Essere vs venire
• Venire used necessarily when the past participle of the verb
can be mistaken for an adjective (especially with “present”
and “imperfetto”)
• La porta è chiusa
• Copula + adjective or auxiliary + past participle ?
(state)
(process)
• La porta viene chiusa
(process)
• Venire is never used in complex tense forms (tempi
composti)
• Il verbo venire si usa per esprimere chiaramente la costruzione passiva
quando il participio passato del verbo portante ha anche valore di
aggettivo e quindi con l'uso di essere il significato passivo non risulterebbe
evidente: dicendo "il vetro è pulito", "la porta era aperta", indichiamo
normalmente condizioni in atto (con il verbo essere in funzione di copula,
seguito da un aggettivo) e non descriviamo, in forma passiva, azioni
compiute da qualcuno.
• Con altri participi passati invece il rischio non c'è: "Paolo è amato",
"l'annuncio era diramato" sono sentiti come passivi.
• Nei casi ambigui, per esprimere il passivo si ricorre perciò al verbo venire:
"il vetro viene pulito (da ...)", "la porta veniva aperta (da ...)".
• Tale impiego di venire è limitato ai tempi semplici (soprattutto presente e
imperfetto dell'indicativo e del congiuntivo: viene, veniva, venga, venisse,
e condizionale verrebbe, per fare esempi solo di terza persona singolare; si
aggiunga il gerundio venendo; meno necessario l'uso di verrà per sarà e
di venne per fu) perché l'ambiguità sussiste solo per questi tempi.
Translation strategies Eng>Ita (2)
• Impersonal passive > si-construction
– It is recommended to use the supplied speakers
– Si raccomanda di utilizzare…
• Passive > passive (beware of subject position!)
– If “CHECK TAPE” is displayed the protection tab has been
removed
– Quando viene visualizzata l’indicazione “CHECK TAPE”, la
linguetta di protezione è stata staccata.
– A fine needle biopsy was carried out
– Fu eseguita una biopsia ad ago sottile
• Passive> si-contruction
– Si effettuò una biopsia ad ago sottile
Complement
• Subject complement
I am a full-time English lecturer
• Object complement
The Americans have elected Bush president
• The complement follows intensive (or copular)
verbs
• Be, become, seem, appear, feel, look…
• The complement slot can be filled by
• a noun/pronoun phrase
– I am Australian / It’s me!
• An adjective phrase
– This new job will make you rich
• Finite/non-finite subordinate clause
– This is what I mean
Adverbial
• Adjunct adverbials: give extra information about time,
duration, manner, place, reason…
– I’ve been studying English for three years.
• Disjunct adverbials: convey the speaker’s attitude
towards the content of the sentence
– Frankly/honestly, of course I’m quite fed up.
• Conjunct adverbials: link clause or sentences together.
– I was really late last night, however I managed to catch the
train on time.
An adverbial can be filled by
• An adverb phrase: They lived happily
• A preposition phrase: I prefer to stay at home
on Sunday night
• A noun phrase: She phones me every evening
Translation problems/strategies
• Reordering
• aA position
• Subject (dropped/added)
Task
• Translate sentences p. 131