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Phrases |
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The chapter "Phrases" refers to the inner structure of the constituents of a sentence (subject, object, adverbial). It describes what elements and what combinations of elements can form constituents. A description of the constituents as a whole can be found in the chapter "Constituents".
Simple and complex constituentsA constituent of a sentence can be simple or complex:
| Simple constituents |
| Subject |
Predicate |
Object |
| Kühe |
fressen |
Gras. |
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| Complex constituents |
| Subject |
Predicate |
Object |
| Die Kühe des Nachbarn |
fressen |
saftiges, grünes Gras. |
A complex constituent consists of a central part, the head, and of extensions that restrict or add to the sense of the head. An extension, on its turn, can also consist of a head and extensions. In this manner, a sentence can be divided into heads and extensions down to the level of individual words:
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Der alte Mann hütet die Kinder seines jüngsten Sohns.
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Constituents
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subject
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predicate |
accusative object
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Phrases
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noun phrase
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verb
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noun phrase
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ext.
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ext.
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head |
ext.
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head
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ext. =
noun phrase
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ext.
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ext.
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head
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Words
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Der
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alte
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Mann
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hütet
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die
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Kinder
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seines
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jüngsten
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Sohns
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ext. = extension
Heads, attributes, phrases
Complex constituents of a sentence consist of a head and one or more extensions (see above). The most important extensions are the attributes. See:
A head and its extensions form a word group or phrase. An extension, on its turn, can also be a phrase, i.e. it can consist of a head and one or more extensions. The phrases are named after the word class of their head:
For more information about form and function of a phrase type, click on the corresponding name.
Complex predicates (verb groups) are not treated here. See Complex predicates and Predicatives for more information.
Complex and compound phrases
Complex phrases consist of a head and one or more extensions (see above). When a head has more than one extension (attribute), different dependence relations between them are possible.
die Reise der Freunde meiner Schwester nach Amsterdam
Compound phrases consist of two or more similar parts having the same function in the phrase. The parts are connected by conjunctions like und, oder, sowohl ... als auch.
Herr Müller und seine Frau sind angekommen
die Bestimmung des Ortes und der Zeit
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