Herrán, Joana English Grammar IIMata, José Prof. Fernández – Prof. Cheme ArriagaSegatta, Daniel 2011

Grammatical Systems in Language

According to the theoretic lines of Systemic Functional Linguistics, many systems of

choices are applied in Language so as to create semantic distinctions among the elements

of the Lexis. Other systems are used in order to differentiate the components of Grammar.

One of these distinctions makes use of the Grammatical Choice system, which is formed

by the three basic elements of a clause: Subject, Finite and Predicate.

The Subject is the “doer” of the action expressed in the verb, i.e., the participant that

performs –or receives– this action. A Finite is a verb that becomes completely inflected

according to five aspects: Person, Number, Tense, Mood and Voice. Finally, the Predicate

characterises the Subject.

The possible combinations of these elements generate three patterns of grammatical order

in English, and therefore, three types of clauses:

• Declarative clauses (statements), where the order of the elements is organised as

follows:

• Interrogative clauses (questions), where the elements are ordered in a slightly different

manner:

SUBJECT + FINITE VERB + PREDICATE

He looks just like an angel.

It is a fine position.

I have a golden bedroom.

The swallow came back to the Prince.

I am covered with fine gold.

FINITE VERB + SUBJECT + PREDICATE

Will you come away with me?

Why can’t you be like the Happy Prince?

Have you any commisions for Egypt?

Will you let me kiss your hand?

Is he not solid gold?

Herrán, Joana English Grammar IIMata, José Prof. Fernández – Prof. Cheme ArriagaSegatta, Daniel 2011

• Imperative clauses (commands), where we find neither a Subject nor a Finite. These

clauses only feature a Non-Finite verb and the Predicate –which is optional if the verb is

intransitive–.

When we organise and arrange the grammatical roles that words play in our message, we

obtain the realisation of Grammatical Choices through the Structures formed. Then, the

Structures are the ones to realise these Choices. But in order to obtain words from these

Structures, it becomes necessary to organise those grammatical elements, and finally turn

them into sounds or letters.

Semantics

Meanings

Meaning-m

aking Levels

CO

NT

EN

T LANGUAGE

AS A

SEMIOTIC

SYSTEM

Lexico-Grammar

Turning Meanings into Wordings

(Words and Structures)

Phonology / Graphology

Sounds or Letters

(express the Meanings created in

the two levels above)

RE

ALIS

AT

ION

* All of the examples used in this work have been extracted from “The Happy Prince”, by Oscar Wilde.

NON-FINITE + PREDICATE

Pluck out one of them.

Take it to him.