The simple sentence as a monopredicative syntactic structure. The notion of the predicative line
The sentence as a main syntactic unit performs the function of predication. The basic predicative meanings are expressed by the finite verb which is connected with the subject of the sentence. This predicative connection is referred to as the predicative line of the sentence. Depending on their predicative complexity, sentences can feature one predicative line or several predicative lines, respectively sentences can be “monopredicative” and “ polypredicative ”. Under this distinction the simple sentence is a sentence in which only one predicative line is expressed,
e.g.: We have much in common. It is raining.
In respect of predication a proper simple sentence should be distinguished from a semicomposite sentence (traditional term) or complementational sentence (J.R. Taylor’ s term) and clauseconflational sentence (L.Talmy’ s term).
Semicomposite sentence can include, for example, homogeneous sentence parts: either subjects or predicates, which represent polypredicative structures,
e.g.:
1. My brother and I were absolutely happy that time.
2.The cousin greeted me and offered a cup of tea.
It is quite evident that the sentences express two different predicative lines: in the first one the two subjects form separate predicative connections and in the second one the two predicates are separately connected with the subject. Semicomposite sentences, as well as complementational sentences, can also include a clause which functions as the subject or the object of the verb,
e.g.:
3. I saw them break into the house.
4.To finish it in time was impossible.
Clauseconflational sentences, as termed by L.Talmy, are syntactic units which are based on clause fusion. They represent conceptual complex and therefore possess polypredicative structures, though on the formal syntactic level appear as simple sentences. Such like structures are probably based on a higher degree of conceptual integration between parts of an event complex, as compared to semicomposite or complementational sentences
e.g.:
5. The leaves withered away.
6.He whistled his way out of the restaurant.
7.These cars are expensive to repair.
Representation of polypredication is conditioned by interaction of lexical semantics of sentence elements and a particular type of syntactic construction.
Thus, we may state, that a proper simple sentence, or a single clause sentence, to put it more exactly, is a monopredicative unit, as distinguished from composite and semicomposite sentence
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(complementational and clauseconflational sentneces in terms of cognitive approach).
Communicative Types of sentences.
The sentence is a communicative unit, therefore primary classification of sentence must be based on the communicative principle - the purpose of communication. Traditional grammar recognized three cardinal sentence-types:
a) the declarative sentence expresses a statement, either affirmative or negative;
b) the imperative sentence expresses inducement, either affirmative or negative;
c) the interrogative sentence expresses a question, i.e. request for information wanted by the speaker from the listener .
Interrogative sentences are subdivided into general questions and special questions, disjunctive questions and alternative questions. The last 2 types of questions may be treated as variants of the first 2 types.
The general question is that one in which the relations between the subject and the predicate are questioned. Such questions require a positive or negative answer (yes - no).
In special questions we ask about some definite or specific information, which is marked by the interrogative pronoun or adverb, (d) the exclamatory sentence.
Note: (In modern linguistics it has been demonstrated that exclamatory sentences do not possess the necessary qualities that could place them on one level with those mentioned above).
These are the cardinal communicative sentence types in English.
The structural types of the sentence.
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