2 .Basic Syntactic Structures II
2 .Basic Syntactic Structures II
2 .Basic Syntactic Structures II
2. Categorial contrast
Corresponding elements in semantically equivalent and otherwise congruent sentences in both languages
belong to different syntactic categories.
1. The post-nominal modifying of- prepositional phrases in English correspond to genitive noun phrases
in Polish:
the top of the mountain – wierzchołek góry
destruction of the city – zniszczenie miasta
2. Genitive and instrumental objects following some reflexive verbs in Polish correspond to
prepositional objects in English:
Chwalił się swą odwagą. – He boasted of his courage.
Pozbył się starego samochodu. – He disposed of his old car.
Bawił się zapałkami. – He played with the matches.
Pogratulowałem mu sukcesu. – I congratulated him on his success.
5. A reverse situation, in which a single noun phrase in English corresponds to a prepositional phrase in
Polish is also possible:
Często gram w karty. – I often play cards.
Odpowiedz na moje pytania. – Answer my questions.
Policja weszła do budynku. – The police entered the building.
Wszystkie strzały ugodziły w cel. – All arrows have hit the target.
It is often said that the word order in English is fixed whereas in Polish it is free.
However, if we examine Polish and English sentences more carefully it turns out that neither Polish word
order is so free, nor English word order so fixed.
This is so because context can influence the word order of a sentence and interpretation of a sentence, and
because word order is connected with organization of information in a sentence.
In the majority of sentences we can distinguish the information which is given (repeated, known) – the
theme, and the information which is new in a given context – the rheme/the focus.
in cases of stylistic making when any of the elements of a simple sentence can be fronted (the
fronted word may receive a special emphasis even if it functions as theme).
Really good cocktails they made at that hotel.
Relaxation you call it.
Touch her I would not dare.
“In that mansion used to be / free-hearted hospitality” (H. M. Longfellow, The Old Clock on the
Stairs)
Before them, under the garden wall, / forward and back, / went drearily singing the chore girl small.”
J. G. Whittier, Telling the Bees
“Do Tadeusza siedzi Telimana bokiem, pomięszana, zaledwie śmie nań rzucić okiem.” A.
Mickiewicz, Pan Tadeusz