Classification of phrases according to the types of syntactic relations between the constituents

The structural theory of word-groups (descriptive linguistics) divides word-groups into two main types: endocentric (headed) and exocentric (non-headed). The criteria for distinguishing between them are distribution and substitution. An endocentric group has the same position as its headword. The distribution of an exocentric group differs from the distribution of its components.

3 types of syntactic relations within word-groups: subordination, coordination, interdependence. Accordingly, phrases are usually classified into subordinate, coordinate and predicative. Sometimes a fourth type, appositive phrases, is mentioned.

Subordination:

1) agreement (concord) – expressing syntactic relationship by the modifier copying the form of the headword.

• In English – between demonstrative pronouns and nouns (this day – these days, that day – those days)

• between the Subject and the Predicate (agreement in Number). English agreement is an agreement of notions rather than agreement of forms.

My family are early risers.

The United Nations is located in New York.

• The predicates agree not with the grammatical subjects but with their references.

2) government -the use of a certain form of the adjunct as required by the headword, but not coinciding with it.

In English,

• Vb_tr + N_Com / Prn_{Ob j}: See the girl / her.

• Vb_Intr + 0: The dog is barking.

Strong (the preposition depends on

• Vb + O_Prp: the verb: to insist on smth.)

Weak (the preposition is chosen in

accordance with the meaning: To look at / for / through the book.

3) adjoinment -expression of syntactic relations without a change of forms, by mere juxtaposition.

• In English, is very widely spread:

happy life, give advice, widely known

• The combination of words by adjoinment is limited

(a) grammatically:

*Adv+N, *Adj+V

(b) lexically (semantic compatibility):

* to read a chair, * long snow

4) enclosure (замыкание) – some element of a phrase is enclosed between two parts of another element:

the then government,

an on-the-spot investigation,

have never seen,

to be always searching

5) Connection (коннекция) – using formal words (prepositions, conjunctions)

a book of poetry, rain or snow