|
Chapter VI SENTENCE CONVERSION |
  |
|
Lesson 26 Sentence-Adverb Convertor(S-AD CVT): "because", etc.
26-1 [Sentence-Adverb Convertor(S-AD CVT): because]
A kernel sentence(K-S), with "because" at the head of it, can change into an adverb(AD).
(1)a. I overslept.
b. Because I overslept, I missed the train.
c. Unfortunately I missed the train.
The underlined part in (1b) is interchangeable with that in (1c); it is an adverb made by adding "because" to the sentence (1a). In other words:
(2) because + K-S
We term this "because" a sentence-adverb convertor(S-AD CVT), "because". Diagram of the underlined part in (1b):
(3) (because I overslept)
AD
The underlined part in (1b) is an adverbial clause, because it has the following three features.
(i) It has the structure "N + V", and therefore PRS/PST.
(ii) It is embedded in a sentence(S).
(iii) It functions as an adverb(AD).
26-2 [Some other S-AD CVTs : "after", "when", etc] In addition to "because", there are other S-AD CVTs.
(i) <after>
(4) I received a letter three months after she left.
(ii) <as>
(5) Light is refracted as it passes through a lens.
(6) As it grew darker, it became colder.
(7) Everything is going as I expected.
(8) As Dex is honest, everybody likes him.
(9) Poor as we are, we are not unhappy.
(iii) <before>
(10) I had counted 22,576 sheep before I fell asleep.
(iv) <if>
(11) If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
(12) We'll finish it, if it takes us all day.
(v) <since>
(13) Since I was a child, I've enjoyed taking things apart
and putting them back together again.
(14) Since you're no longer a child, you should know better.
(vi) <though/although>
(15) Though/Although I live near the sea, I can't swim.
(vii) <when>
(16) When I was watching television, the telephone rang.
(17) How can you pass the exam when you don't study?
(viii) <while>
(18) A Mr.Goodrich called you while you were out.
(19) We throw away tons of leftovers every day in Japan,
while in other countries many are dying of hunger.
(ix) <Others>
(20) Until/Till the steamboat came, the Mississippi was a
one-way river -- downstream.
(21) I'm lucky that my wife is such a good cook.
(22) Now you're here, you'd better stay.
(23) Once he makes a promise, he never breaks it.
(24) Whenever she goes out, she changes her clothes.
26-3 [S-AD CVT vs N-AD CVT)] Some S-AD CVTs can be used as an N-AD CVT as well.
(25)a. That actress has not appeared on TV since she retired.
b. That actress has not appeared on TV since her
retirement.
(26)a. We'll wait until he arrives.
b. We'll wait until his arrival.
However, others are only used as an S-AD CVT or an N-AD CVT.(27)a. He failed in the exam because he was lazy. b. *He failed in the exam because of he was lazy. (28)a. He failed in the exam because of his laziness. b. *He failed in the exam because his laziness.26-4 ["if"(S-AD CVT) vs "if"(S-N CVT)] The convertor "if" sometimes functions as an S-AD CVT and sometimes as an S-N CVT.
(29) If he comes back, I'll tell you. (S-AD CVT)
(30) I wonder if he will come back. (S-N CVT)
Diagrams:
(31) (if he comes back)
AD
26-5 [Chunk CVTs and Stepping-Stone CVTs] Some S-AD CVTs consist not of a single word but of a phrase, which is a chunk CVT or a stepping-stone CVT.
(i) <chunk CVTs>
(33) The moment she touched him, he turned into stone.
(34) She talked as if she knew him.
(35) Many countries participate in the Olympic Games
every time they are held.
(36) As far as mathematics is concerned, no one in the class
can match him.
(37) His mother loved him the more because he was stupid.
(ii) <stepping-stone CVTs>
(38) The pizza was so hot that nobody could eat it.
(39) I practiced very hard so that I might win the race.
(40) As lungs are to animals, so are leaves to plants.
(41) The higher up in the air we go, the colder it becomes.
(42) This job isn't as easy as you think.
26-6 [S EPD{Subjunctive}: SUBJ] In the following two sentences, the underlined parts are both adverbial clauses made by the convertor "if". However, the two sentences differ.
(43) If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.
(44) If I were you, I wouldn't do that.
If you examine these sentences, you will find the following differences.
(i) With respect to meaning:
a) The "if" in (43) means the possibility 50%.
(This is often called a conditional "if".)
b) The "if" in (44) means the possibility 0%.
(This is often called a subjunctive "if".)
(ii) With respect to form:
a) The verb(V) in (43) is in the PRS form.(rains)
b) The verb(V) in (44) is in the PST form.(were)
The underlined part in (44) has {Although it is not the fact} or {Subjunctive} in meaning, and PST in form.We consider that a sentence expander which adds the meaning {Subjunctive} to a sentence(S) works here. We call it a S EPD {Subjunctive} or SUBJ. This expander operates as follows.
<SUBJ>
Step 1: Put one more tense on AGR(PRS/PST).
The diagram of the underlined part in (44) is:
(45) (if I were you)
AD
26-7 [{Past}+{Subjunctive}] The expander SUBJ sometimes occurs with PST. Notice that the leftmost parts of verbs in (46) have been changed as follows. The two meanings, {Past} and {Subjunctive}, require a two-step tense change in the verb. Similar examples:
(47) If the parents had been more careful, the tragedy would
have been prevented.
(48) If it had not been for your advice, I might have failed.
An interesting case:In (49), "would be" expresses only {Subjunctive} and "  " expresses both {Past} and {Subjunctive}.26-8 [SUBJ in N/A Clause] The expander SUBJ occurs in a noun clause or an adjective clause as well as in an adverbial clause.
(50) I wish I were a bird. (N)
(51) She looked as if she had seen a ghost or something. (A)
Diagrams:
(52) ( ø I were a bird)
N
26-9 [SUBJ + Phrase] The expander SUBJ may occur with a phrase or even a word as well as with a sentence. In the following, therefore, you can't tell which the underlined part alone would be.
(i) Present Condition
(54)a. Without your help, I can not do it.
(ii) Present Subjunctive
b. Without your help, I could not do it.
(iii) Past Subjunctive
c. Without your help, I could not have done it.
26-10 [Inversion = Omission of "if"] In a rather old-fashioned way, the meaning and function of {Subjunctive} "if" can be expressed by the inversion.
(55)a. If it were not for the sun, nothing could live.
b. = Were it not for the sun, nothing could live.
(56)a. If he had been born twenty years earlier, he would
have been successful.
b. = Had he been born twenty years earlier, he would have
been successful.
|
AD
CVT[S-AD] K-S
(because) (I overslept)
|
Copyright(C) 2004 Masaya Oba. All rights reserved. |
 |