Presentation of SFL by Hira Haroon
to Dr.Hafiz Qasim
DESCRIBING PERSONS,THINGS AND
CIRCUMSTANCES
ADJECTIVES AND THE ADJECTIVAL GROUP
https://youtu.be/z2aoT-pKTvo
CIRCUMSTANCES
Circumstances answer such questions as when,where,why,how,how
many and as what .
They realise meaning about
time,place,manner,cause,accompaniment,matter and role
TYPES OF CIRCUMSTANCES
Extent
Location
Manner
Cause
Contigency
Accompaniment
Role
Matter
Angle
Extent
Circumstances of extent express such semantic notions as distance
(how far), duration (for how long) and frequency (how often)
Examples
These are scattered throughout the country and include most of the
variety of habitats in Japan. (Extent: distance)
Tom has been a horse dentist for fifteen years. (Extent: duration)
Uncle Mick had dragged him time and time again to see his own
beloved New York Giants. (Extent: frequency)
Location
Location is concerned with place (where) and time (when).
Events take place in time and space.
IFG mostly uses the terms spatial and temporal for these two sub-
types.
Examples
He drove down to the beach, but did not park near Pepe’s.
(Location: spatial)
I forgot to put it out for the birds yesterday morning. (Location:
temporal)
Manner
This type has four sub-types
Means (how: with what tools, what methods,e.g. with a key, by
magic, electronically)
Quality (how: in what manner or style, e.g. quietly, briskly, with some
hesitation)
Comparison (how: like what,e.g. similarly, in a different way, as
before, like an angel)
Degree (how much: e.g. greatly, considerably, a little, a bit, very
much)
Cause
Reason (why: e.g. because of, thanks to, owing to)
Example
As a result of this, he was suspended for two years, which of course
delayed his entry into first-class cricket. (Cause: reason)
Purpose (why, what for: e.g. for the purpose of, with the aim of)
Example
He had been hanging on at Etten in hopes of a visit from Mauve. (Cause:
purpose)
Behalf (who for: e.g. for, on behalf of)
Example
In the present context, the question is whether one State can enter into a
treaty on behalf of another. (Cause: behalf)
Contigency
Condition (under what conditions, in case of, in the event of)
Default (in default of, in the absence of, failing)
Concession (in spite of, despite)
Examples
An interior panic button allows occupants to draw attention in case
of attack. (Contingency: condition)
Let’s call it a compromise for want of a better term. (Contingency:
default)
The hill feels peaceful in spite of tourists. (Contingency: concession)
Accompaniment
This term is fairly self-explanatory, but there are two sub-types:
Comitative (who with, what with: with/without)
Additive (as well as, instead of, besides)
Examples
You starred in a film called River of No Return with Marilyn Monroe.
(Accompaniment: comitative)
Again the howl, nearer, more drawn out, chilling the heart as well as
the blood. (Accompaniment: additive)
Role
Guise (as what, for what: e.g. by way of, in the form of)
Product (into what: e.g. into)
Examples
1) As a teacher I assume the right to call my students by their first
names. (Role: guise)
2)You can convert your garden into a butterfly haven. (Role: product)
Matter
Matter as in ‘subject matter’ (about what. This usually occurs in
verbal process and is difficult to separate from Verbiage).
Example:
He warned me about the fight.
Adjectives and The Adjectival
Group
Structure and characteristic uses of the adjectival group
The adjectival group is composed of three structural elements
A head(h)
A modifier(m)
A post-head element(either a modifier or a compliment)
Examples
1) Very glad that you won the match(mhc)
2) very good indeed at chess(mhmc)
Types of Adjectives
There are three types of adjectives
Simple Adjectives (good,bad,big,little,tall,short,black,white)
Derived Adjectives (greenish,hopeful,unhappy,insecure,asleep)
Compound Adjectives (tax-free goods,well-off people)
Semantic classes of Adjectives
Descriptors
Such adjectives express the following types of meanings:
Size,weight,extent (big/little,long/short,wide/narrow)
Colour (black,white,red,blue)
Meaning related to time (young,old,new,recent)
Evaluative (beautiful,good,bad,nice,pretty)
An active or passive process (participial adjectives:frightening,tired)
General qualities (hot,cold,full,empty,soft,strong,dull)
A temporary state (with predicative function only:
asleep,alone,awake)
classifiers
Three types of classifiers:
Restrictive
Relating to group
Category-specifying meanings
Degree emphasisers
In addition to these two types,Certain adjectives can function as
degree emphasisers with a strongly emotive tinge.of these mere and
utter have no other meanings as adjectives,the others can be used as
descriptors(a sheer cliff,a true story,pure water)
Syntactic functions of the
Adjectival Group
AdjGs can realise functions in both group and clause structures:
AdjGs in Groups
Pre-modifier in a NG (a very good actor)
Post-modifier in a NG (something cheap)
Head of a NG (the French,the sick)
Complement of a preposition (at last,in short)
Modifier in an AdjG (bright red,pale blue)
AdjGs in clauses
Subject complement (the acting was brilliant)
Object complement (I consider that offensive)
AdjGs in Peripheral
Stance adjuncts
Detached predicatives
Ajectives as exclamations
Central and Peripheral Adjectives
Central are attributive functions,as modifiers in NG and predicative
function,as subject complement in the clause.
Central adjectives are also descriptors while peripherals are
classifiers,degree emphasisers,process oriented adjectives.
Thanks
