Parenthetical Elements

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 440.

Specifiers

§ 471. The peculiar combinability and functions of particles distinguish them from all other words in the sentence. They are not adjuncts of definite parts of speech like complements, attributes or extensions. They do not link any parts of the sentence like connectives. They are not parenthetical elements. So they make a distinct secondary part of the sentence, spec­ifiers. The name just indicates their function. In simple sentences they specify various words and combinations of words by intensifying their meaning (even), by singling them out (only), by showing that something similar was already mentioned (also), etc.

E, g. Is he a terribly good judge of a horse?

Yes. Of anything else, Dinny — no. (Galsworthy).

I've tried that too, Aunty. (Ib.).

I was only brilliant once. (Ib.).

§ 472. The articles resemble particles in being semi-notional and in functioning as specifiers. But they specify only one part of speech, nouns. In this they resemble attri­butes.

§ 473. Parenthetical elements are peculiar parts of the sentence.

a) They are characterized by negative combinability with the other words of the sentence.

b) They are, as it were, not in a line with the other parts of the sentence, but parallel to them.

c) They mostly express the speaker's attitude towards the content of the sentence, its relation to other sentences or si­tuations.

One poem, of course, is much the finest. (Galsworthy).

By the way, there's to be a preface. (Ib.).

§ 474. In accordance with their meanings parenthetical elements fall into four major groups:

1. Modal parenthetical elements serving to show the atti­tude of the speaker towards the relation of the communication to reality.

He would have to buy them out, of course. (Galsworthy).

Certainly he thought about it all the way there. (Lewis).

2. Connective parenthetical elements showing the con­nection of thoughts.

He did not, h о w e v e r, neglect to leave certain matters to future consideration. (Galsworthy).

May I say, first, that I have been very much pleased by your analysis of the situation. (Lewis).

3. Explanatory parenthetical elements.

He remembered suddenly one night, the first on which he went out to dinner alone — an old M a l b и r i a n d i n n e r — the first year of their marriage. (Galsworthy).

4. All other words inserted into the sentence, including direct address:

Shall I announce him, my lady? (Shaw).

Then who manages his business, pray? (Ib.).

§ 475. In a simple sentence parenthetical elements may be expressed by individual words (modal words, adverbs, nouns) and word-combinations of different nature.

Perhaps somebody cleverer than you and Mr. Mangan was at work all the time. (Shaw).

In my opinion, what the country needs, first and foremost, is a good, sound, business-like conduct of its affairs. (Lewis).

Is he at home here, s о to speak, my lady? (Shaw).

§ 476. In most cases parenthetical elements are connected in sense with the sentence as a whole, that is why they have no fixed position in the sentence.

I had a rather good night: in fact, one of the most remarkable nights I have ever passed. (Shaw).

Lady Britomart: What were you drinking, may I ask?

Cusins: A Temperance burgundy, in fact. (Shaw).

If a modal word is connected but with one part of the sen­tence it usually precedes the word it belongs to.

They stayed there for, may be, a year.