A Tentative Discussion on Part X of English Existential Sentences:There-transformation and Regression of Basic Sentence Patterns
Jihua Fu · Journal of China West Normal University · 2011
The current research shows that the fundamental structure of English existential sentences is there + basic sentence pattern,that is,THERE + BE + NP + NPL/T and that its complex structure is the fundamental structure + an extension called Part X,that is,THERE + BE + NP + X + NPL/T,orNPL/T + THERE + BE + NP + X.Part X can be an adjectival phrase,an-ed phrase,an-ing phrase,an infinitive phrase or a clause,functioning as a modifier of NP.English existential sentences are transformed from basic sentence patterns and the transformation includes three kinds,each completed with 4 or 5 steps.The regression from there-transformed sentences to kernel sentences also includes three kinds,each completed with 5 steps.