Meaning and Function

PREFACE

Sentences in English as in any other language are built on a number of typical patterns reflecting typical situations of the real world. Whenever one wants to make a message one chooses an appropriate patterns and finds the slots (positions) in this pattern with particular words.

One of the words fills the central position in any pattern – that of the VERB, - which calls for a certain number of slots and the kind of words to fill them. For example, the verb SEND dictates that there is someone to take and deliver something to someone:

I will send her the money. → I will send the money to her.

Both patterns have three slots to hold names of the three participants of the situation – someone who sends, something that is sent and someone to whom something is sent. The verb CUT dictates that there is someone to divide something into pieces using something as an instrument, possibly, on something used as a work surface:

She was cutting cheese with a sharp knife (on a board).

On the other hand, verbs like COUGH, SIGH and LAUGH dictate that there is just someone making a specific sound:

He coughed, she sighed, they laughed.

Pattern 1: THERE VS

The verb BE in the meaning of EXISTENCE or PRESENCE requires a very peculiar structure with formal THERE in the first position and the Subject following BE. Subject points to a person, thing or state of things existing in the world or present in one of its segments:

There are big women and small men.

There was a big white china mug on the table.

There are sandstorms nearly every day.

Pattern 2: SVCs

It is never enough to just state that something exists. People want to know what it is like and what class of objects it belongs to. To describe a person, a thing or a state of things speakers use the structure with the slot for Complement, which is an adjectival or a noun phrase pointing to a feature or a set of features typical of a class of objects:

She is beautiful.

He is a professional singer.

Pattern 3: SV

Some other verbs, known as Intransitive, require one slot for Subject – the doer of an action or activity indicated by the verb:

He coughed, she sighed, they laughed.

Pattern 4: SVOd

On the other hand, Transitive verbs always require two slots – for Subject and for Direct Object, which generally indicate, respectively, the doer of an action and the person or thing directly affected by the action:

She was cutting cheese on a board.

Pattern 5: SVOiOd

There is a group of verbs in English which, along with Subject, require two Objects – Direct and Indirect. Direct Object indicates a thing received or meant for a person indicated by Indirect Object:

I will send her the money.

Pattern 6: SVOdCo

There is a small group of verbs in English which allow the use of Direct Object accompanied by Object Complement. Object Complement gives an additional description of a person or thing indicated by Direct Object:

He painted the door green.

She likes her coffee black.
I

THERE V S

Meaning and Function

Translate the sentences into Russian paying attention to the verbs you can use. What meaning do they have in common?

1. Once there was a beautiful princess called Alice.

2. In Queen Victoria's time there were no aeroplanes.

3. There's something strange about this picture.

4. There are no children in the house.

5. There is another exit at the back.

6. There are some curious creatures in this world.

7. There are high winds sometimes.

8. Right in front of the house there is a swimming pool.

9. There is a small round table in the corner.

10.There was a new cushion on one of the settees.

11. There’s always washing on the line.

12. There were pieces of the plane everywhere.

13. There are wolves in these mountains.

14. There are no flowers by the stream.

15. There is a ferry to the mainland every Friday.

16. In 1989 there was an earthquake in San Francisco.

17. There will be a debate in Parliament next Tuesday.

18. There is a wedding in the church.

19. There was a strange atmosphere in that place.

20. There is a definite warning in this letter.

Distribute the subjects between the categories set in the table below. What conclusion does the resulting picture suggest?

1.There's some rice and some apples.

2.There is no smoke without fire.

3.There were raindrops on the car.

4.There are two tides every day.

5.There has been little change.

6.There is a stop ahead.

7.Is there a swimming pool or a sauna?

8.There is no date here.

9.There was blood on his coat.

10. There were few visitors to our house.

11. There are working dogs, pet dogs and show dogs.

12. Do you think there is a difference?

13. There were no clues at the scene of the crime.

14. There is gold under the ground.

15. Is there any room in your street for parking?

16. There isn't very much time.

17. There are a few eggs and a little meat.

18. There weren't any girls in the class.

19. There's white sugar and brown sugar.

20. There isn't any milk in the fridge.

21. There are advantages and disadvantages.

22. There is a great deal of dishonesty in advertising.

23. There's a message for you.

24. There was quite a downpour last night.

25. There is research to be done!

	Count nouns	Uncount nouns
	Singular	Plural
Articles (including Ø)
Other determiners
Quantifiers

The subjects in the sentences are definite descriptions. Is the meaning of the whole sentence different in this case?

1. – Who can we ask?

– There’s James, or Miranda, or Annie.

2. – Where exactly can I go?

– Well, lots of places. There’s Singapore or, um, Teheran, Athens…

3. – The best woman player? That’s a difficult question. There’s Helen Wills, for example.

4. – There’s one packet for the museum… And there’s this one. That’s for Jackson.

Formulate the meanings of HERE VS in A and B. In what way is this structure different from THERE VS?

A.

1. Here’s your ticket!

2. Here’s the book I told you about.

3. Here’s the reporters’ office.

4. Here’re the others!

5. Here’s a man who knows his own mind.

6. Here’s another sign. It says No Left Turn!

7. Here’s something interesting.

B.

1. Every year “mad” Englishmen try to cross the Channel in all kinds of “boats”. Here are some of the silliest examples: a large bed, a giant gin bottle, a beer barrel, a parachute behind a boat…

2. Here are some of the reasons for their great success…

3. Here’s the news…

4. Here are the addresses to which you should apply…

5. So you want to learn about computers? Here’s what you need…

6. Here’s how it’s done…

Grammar

Determiners

• Zero article with count "thing" nouns and uncount "substance" nouns

“What’s in …?” Make up sentences using one of the nouns in brackets.

1. … the jar? (honey / jam / marmalade…)

2. … the can? (beer / coke / orange juice…)

3. … the tin? (tuna / beans / sardines…)

4. … the bowl? (soup / salad / cereal…)

5. … the tub? (butter / margarine / cheese spread…)

6. … the carton? (juice / milk / yoghurt…)

7. … the packet? (ham / cheese / biscuits…)

8. … the bag? (rice / sugar / flour…)

9. … the bottle? (martini / sherry / port…)

10. … the box? (chocolates / biscuits / matches…)

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