Word order | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | #8 |

Search the corpus:

[Word order #2]
FOCUS: Order of words in the clause

Use the corpus to solve the following exercises:

1) Search for "where" in the corpus (sort concordance by keyword); what is the subject-verb order in line 1?
SVO
OVS
there is no subject

2) Search for "what" in the corpus (sort concordance by LEFT word); what is the subject-verb order in line 10?
SVO
OVS
there is no subject

3) What is the reason for the word order in question (2)?
VS is the typical word order in interrogative sentences
SV is the typical word order in declarative sentences
VS is the typical word order in subjectless clauses

4) Search for "however" in the corpus; which of the following statements is supported by the corpus search result?
"however" can only occur in clause initial position
"however" can never occur in clause final position
"however" can occur in clause medial position

5) Search for "notwithstanding" in the corpus (sort concordance by KEYWORD); which of the following positions does "notwithstanding" have in line 8?
clause initial
clause medial
clause final

6) Search for "Royal Princess" and "Princess Royal"; which of the following statements is supported by the corpus search result?
"Royal Rrincess" is the typical expression
"Princess Royal" is the typical expression
"Royal Princess" and "Princess Royal" are both commonly used

7) What does the foregoing answer (along with your previous knowledge of English) tell you?
adjectives typically precede the noun in English
adjectives can in some cases follow the noun in English
adjectives can never follow the noun in English

8) Which of the following word order pattern is NOT found in the corpus?
"am I not"
"aren´t I"
"are I not"
"ain´t I"


Last updated 4 October 2023, SOE
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