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classed as direct (the immediate transition of the action to the object) and indirect or oblique (the indirect
relation of the object to the process). Direct objective connections are non-prepositional, the preposition
serving as an intermediary of combining words by its functional nature. Indirect objective connections may be
both prepositional and non-prepositional. Since, on the other hand, some prepositional objective connections,
in spite of their being indirect, still come very near to direct ones in terms of closeness of the process-substance
relation expressed, all the objective connections may be divided into "narrow" and "broader". Semantically,
narrow prepositional objective connections are then to be classed together with direct objective connections,
the two types forming the corresponding subclasses of non-prepositional (direct) and prepositional (indirect)
narrow objective connections of words. Cf:.
He remembered the man. I won't stand any more nonsense. I sympathized with the child. They were
working on the problem. Etc.
f.: examples of broader indirect objective connections, both non-prepositional and prepositional:
Will you show me the picture? Who(m) did he buy it for? Tom peeped into the hall. Etc.
Further subdivision of objective connections is realized on the basis of subcategonzing the elements of
objective combinations, and first of all the verbs; thus, we recognize objects of immediate action, of perception,
of speaking, etc.
Objective connection may also combine an adjunct substance word with a kernel word of non-verbal
semantics (such as a state or a property word), but the meaning of some processual relation is still implied in
the deep semantic base of such combinations all the same. Cf.: aware of John's presence >
am aware; crazy
about her >got crazy about her; full of spite >is full of spite; etc.
Qualifying completive connections are divided into attributive and adverbial. Both are expressed in English
by word-order and prepositions.
Attributive connection unites a substance with its attribute expressed by an adjective or a noun. E.g.: an
enormous appetite; an emerald ring; a woman of strong character, the case for the prosecution; etc.
Adverbial connection is subdivided into primary and secondary.
The primary adverbial connection is established between the verb and its adverbial modifiers of various
standings. E.g.: to talk glibly, to come nowhere; to receive (a letter) with surprise", to throw (one's arms) round
a person's neck; etc.
The secondary adverbial connection is established between the non-verbal kernel expressing a quality and
its adverbial modifiers of various standings. E.g.: marvellously becoming; very much at ease; strikingly alike;
no longer oppressive; unpleasantly querulous; etc.
§ 7. Different completive noun combinations are distinguished by a feature that makes them into quite
special units on the phrasemic level of language. Namely, in distinction to all the other combinations of words
they are directly related to whole sentences, i.e. predicative combinations of words. This fact was illustrated
above when we described the verbal domination over the subject in a predicative grouping of words (see §5).
Compare some more examples given in the reverse order:
The arrival of the train >The train arrived. The baked potatoes>The potatoes are baked. The gifted pupil
> The pupil has a gift.
Completive combinations of adjectives and adverbs (adjective-phrases and adverb-phrases), as different
froni noun combinations (noun-phrases), are related to predicative constructions but indirectly, through the
intermediary stage of the corresponding noun-phrase. Cf.: utterly neglected - utter neglect-The neglect is utter;
very carefully-great carefulness - The carefulness is great; speechlessly reproachful-speechless reproach-The
reproach is speechless.
These distinctions of completive word combinations are very important to understand for analysing
paradigmatic relations in syntax (see further).
C H A P T E R XXI
SENTENCED GENERAL
§ 1. The sentence is the immediate integral unit of speech built up of words according to a definite syntactic
pattern and distinguished by a contextually relevant communicative purpose. Any coherent connection of words
having an informative destination is effected within the framework of the sentence. Therefore the sentence is
the main object of syntax as part of the grammatical theory.
The sentence, being composed of words, may in certain cases include only one word of various lexico-
grammatical standings. Cf:.
Night. Congratulations. Away! Why? Certainly.