§ 9. The simple predicate.

The simple predicate is expressed by a finite verb in a simple or a compound tense form.

It generally denotes an action: sometimes, however, it denotes | a state which is represented as an action.

Erik arrived at the lab next morning full of suppressed excite­ment. (Wilson)

And so, after all, the Padre had been thinking of letting him

escape. (Voynich)

Mr. Rivarez, I have been looking for you everywhere. (Voynich) j

When Mary was brought in he gave her the local anaesthesia.

(Cronin)

§ 10. There is a special kind of predicate expressed by a , phraseological unit, such as to get rid, to take care, to pay atten- I tion, to lose sight, to have a wash, to give a push, etc.I

When we clear the forests we get rid of such inconveniences. !

(Heyrn)

I went to the bathroom and had a good wash for it had been I

a dusty journey. (Du Maurier)

UtAMMATICAL STRUCTURE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE 9

Part I ACCIDENCE 11

GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE PARTS OF SPEECH 11

never, sometimes, etc.); 206

backward, upstairs, etc.); 206

(6) adverbs of degree, measure and quantity (very, enough, half, too, nearly, almost, much, little, hardly, rather, exceedingly, quite, once, twice, firstly, secondly, etc.). 206

II 207

MODAL WORDS 30

THE INTERJECTION 31

THE PREPOSITION 33

Part II SYNTAX 219

‘ N.. 222

PARTS OF THE SENTENCE 224

(Я 245

coSejuu 163

easily proved by the impossibility of putting a question to the I second component.

Compare:

My friend gave me an interesting book to read.

The man gave a violent start.

Whereas in the first case we can easily put a question to thi object (e. g. What did your friend give you?), in the second cast this is impossible.

We shall treat this kind of predicate.as a subdivision of the simple predicate. For the sake of convenience we shall call it a phraseological predicate.

We distinguish two types of the phraseological predicate.

1. Word combinations of the following type: to have a smoke, to have a swim, to have a run, to give a laugh, to give a push, to take a look, to make a move, etc. Thgse combinations consist of a finite verb which has to a great extent lost its concrete meaning and a noun formed from a verb and mostly used with the indefi­nite article.

This predicate denotes a momentaneous action. In Russian this shade of meaning is rendered by different prefixes and suffixes which express a momentaneous action.

He had a smoke. Он покурил.

He gave a push. Он толкнул.

He gave a start. Он вздрогнул.

He had a wash. Он вымылся, помылся.

He gave a cry. Он вскрикнул.

This type of phraseological predicate is characteristic of collo­quial speech.

Every now and then she gave a half-glance at the people on the pavement. (Lindsay)

She gave an unkind throaty laugh. (Lindsay)

Troy said, “First of all, sergeant, have a drink.” (Heym)

He started, made a short run and stopped and looked over his shoulder. (Dickens)

2. Word combinations of the following type: to get rid, to get ln>ld, to make use, to take care, to lose sight, to make fun, to pay attention, to make up one’s mind, to change one’s mind, to take part, etc.

The second component of these combinations is in most cases an abstract noun used without any article.

That’s more than twenty years ago. She has never made use of her power or caused me a moment’s uneasiness. (Shaw)

You' were making fun of mother just now. (Sliaw)

Then he caught his breath, suddenly reminded of something else. (Wescott)

She made a gesture of dismissal and then suddenly changed her mind. (Wescott)