THE LEXICON

By: Siti Nurani, S.Pd., M.Hum.

CLASSES OF VERBS AND SUBCATEGORISATION

RESTRICTIONS

Subcategorisation: the constraints that lexical verbs place on number and type of constituents, choice of preposition and choice of case.

The class/category of verbs, but the different constructions required by different verbs allow us to set up subclasses or subcategories of verb.

Classes of Verbs:

1. Intransitive Verb 4. Intransitive Locational Verb

2. Transitive Verb 5. Transitive Directional Verb

3. Ditransitive Verb 6. Copula

1. Intransitive Verb

excludes a noun phrase to its right.

Example:

(1) Mr. Knightley despaired.

2. Transitive Verb

requires a noun phrase to its right.

Example:

(2) Emma slighted Miss Bates.

3. Ditransitive Verb (‘twice transitive’)

requires two noun phrases to its right.

Example:

(3) Frank Churchill gave Jane Fairfax a piano.

4. Intransitive Locational Verb excludes a noun phrase to its right but requires a prepositional phrase. Example: (4) Mr. Woodhouse sat in an armchair.5. Transitive Directional Verb requires to its right both a noun phrase and a directional phrase. Example: (5) Mr. Elton handed his wife into the carriage.6. Copula (‘linking verb’) requires to its right an adjective phrase, a noun phrase, a prepositional phrase, or an infinitive. Example: (6) a. Jane Fairfax seemed upset. (adjective

phrase) b. Jane Fairfax seemed a sensible person. (noun

phrase) c. Jane Fairfax seemed in good spirits.

(prepositional phrase) d. Jane Fairfax seemed to be happy.

(infinitive)

CLASSES OF NOUNS

The classes of nouns affect the grammar and meaning of some languages.

Classes of Nouns:

1. Concrete vs Abstract

2. Common vs Proper

3. Count vs Mass

4. Animate vs Inanimate

5. Human vs Non-Human

1. Concrete vs Abstract Concrete nouns => an entity that can be

physically seen, touched, and manipulated. Example: lecturer, wine, book, chair, etc. Abstract nouns => an entity that cannot be

physically seen, touched, and manipulated. Example: truth, amazement, etc.

2. Common vs Proper Common nouns => nouns which are not the

names of people, places, organisations and institutions. (allow or require the and a)

Example: the lecturer, the gritter, the salt, etc.

Proper nouns => nouns which are the names of people, places, organisations and institutions. (exclude the and a)

Example: Ethel, Jakarta, etc.

3. Count vs Mass Count nouns => entities that are thought of as

individuals, that can be counted. (require many)

Example: many boys, plant, idea, etc. Mass nouns => entities that are conceived of a

mass of stuff that cannot be split into countable individuals. Typically occur in the singular; when they occur in the plural, they change their meaning. (require much)

Example: water, flour, wine, much salt, etc.

4. Animate vs Inanimate Animate nouns => nouns which refer to

people, animals, and living beings. Example: baby, Katie, elephant, etc. Inanimate nouns => nouns which refer to

things that are not alive. Example: mountain, relaxation, rain, etc.

5. Human vs Non-Human Human nouns => nouns that denote human. Example: John, girl, etc. Non-Human nouns => nouns that do not

denote human. Example: India, mouse, glass, etc.

FIXED PHRASES A large set of phrases and even whole classes

that are not freely built up but fixed. a. POLYWORDS: in a nutshell; once and for all b. INSTITUTIONALISED EXPRESSIONS: Give me a

break; How do you do? Long time no see; Pleased to meet

you; See you soon; come to think of it; it doesn’t bear

thinking about

c. HIGHLY CONSTRAINED PHRASES: as I was ______ (saying/

mentioning); as far as I ____ (can see/can make out/know);

I (just) can’t think straight; I thought I told you not to do that

d. SENTENCE BUILDERS: my point is that ______ ; let me begin

by _____ ; not only ….. but also

e. COLLOCATIONS: staple food/diet/industry;

wouldn’t/won’t/couldn’t budge; a heavy smoker; a heavy

drinker.

EXERCISE

Please do number 1 and 4

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