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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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 Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:45 am Post subject: Grammar Help - Imperatives |
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Imperatives
I�m hoping someone has some good leads on where to find some sources on how to define the following sentences.
I walk. - simple sentence - subject and verb. � independent clause.
I walk, and I play. compound sentence....2 independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction - comma advised
I walk and play. - now a simple sentence - the second subject (I) is implied.
reducing compound sentences to simple sentences by removing the implied subject is a common technique�and there is a fair bit of literature on this subject.
Ok..here is my question.
How does this rule apply to imperative sentences?
Go! Is a simple sentence with an implied subject ..you.
Go and play! is a compound sentence? Even though the second subject is also implied.(balanced weight on each independent clause though..so�hmm�ok)
Johnny, clean the rug, and Sue, do the dishes. � compound ( 2 obvious subjects with balanced weight)
Johnny, go to the store and buy some milk. � compound?(second subject�same as first�implied)
(talking to a dog) You go and lay down! � compound? ( not balanced weight on the clauses)
Does someone know the rules dealing with this imperative sentence structure issue, or where I can find some literature on this.(i.e. compound or simple sentence and comma usage)
I have already been through most of my grammar texts and this seems to be a non issue...just the same...I would like to know.( I googled this�but nothing came up that was of any help)
http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/compoundsent.htm...
has the quote from Ronald Reagan under compound sentences
Trust, but verify.
Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:01 am Post subject: hmmm |
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hmmm....anybody?  |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 3:52 pm Post subject: |
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In TGG there is an Imperative Transformation; also look up the Katz-Postal Hypothesis.
Akmajian, A. & Heny, F. (1975). An Introduction to the Principles of Transformational Syntax. The MIT Press: Cambridge, MA.
Following this weekend I'll post what I can come up with in regards to Imperative Phrase Structure. But, I'm leaving on a bike trip in an hour and still have to do dishes... |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject: hmm |
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Thiuda - thanks for the links...but, as of yet, no luck.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Have a great weekend. 
Anyone else have something that might clarify this issue? |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Grammar Help - Imperatives |
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| The Cosmic Hum wrote: |
| [R]educing compound sentences to simple sentences by removing the implied subject is a common technique�and there is a fair bit of literature on this subject. Ok..here is my question. How does this rule apply to imperative sentences? |
As far as I can tell, after reading a bit of literature on the subject of imperatives, there is no special rule; the same rule that applies to reducing declarative compound sentences applies to imperatives as well.
My assertion is based on my understanding of the Imperative Transformation that I spoke of earlier. It states that imperatives are derived from sentences with an underlying subject (you) and modal verb (will); i.e. to make an imperative, take a Subject-Verb-Object sentence of the type you - tense - will- VP and nullify the Subject and tense so that it reads � � VP. Since the underlying structure of an imperative is no different than that of a declarative, I believe the same rules apply.
Hope that was helpful in some small way.
Last edited by Thiuda on Sun Oct 05, 2008 8:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: hmm |
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Thanks Thiuda.
I appreciate the information.
I thought this would be an easy search for information, but such was not the case...I still haven't been able to get any difinitive literature on this subject...but the information you gave lends to what I had read as well.
Again, I appreciate your effort.
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