PREDICATE MODIFIERS (WITH EXAMPLES) - LITERATURE - 2024

The modifiers of the predicate are all those elements that accompany the core of the predicate. In grammar, the nucleus is the central component and the one that provides the fundamental meaning. Modifiers are dependent elements on it; that is, they are subordinate to the nucleus.

The nucleus conditions the appearance, and sometimes the shape, of these modifiers. In this sense, the core of the predicate is a conjugated verb. The modifiers of the predicate are: direct object, indirect object, circumstantial complement and attributive. All these functions can be fulfilled by a word, a phrase or a clause.

From the semantic point of view, a direct object is the person or thing on which the action of the verb is fulfilled. Syntactically, it is the nominal construction that can be replaced by "lo", "la", "los" and "las". Sometimes this construction is accompanied by the preposition "a" and only transitive verbs accept direct objects.

In the field of semantics, the indirect object is the entity on which what is indicated by the verb and the direct object falls. Its syntactic structure in a phrase introduced by the prepositions "a" or "para". The indirect object can be replaced by "me", "you", "you", "them", "you", "us", "you" and "the".

For its part, the circumstantial complement indicates the circumstances in which the action of the verb takes place. These include time, place, mode, quantity, and other elements. This function can be exercised by noun phrases, prepositives or clauses.

Finally, the attributive predicates something of the subject or direct object. The copulative verbs "to be", "to be" and "to seem" have attributive complements. Other verbs can also be followed by these modifiers. This function establishes a relationship between the subject and the predicate through the verb and, in general, can be replaced by the adverb "thus".

Examples of sentences with predicate modifiers

The next sentence will underline the predicate modifiers and then proceed to parse. For this, only the verbs of the main propositions (or clauses) will be taken into account.

Example 1

“You took off your waist band, you took off your sandals, you threw your wide skirt into a corner,…. and you loosen the knot that held your hair in a tail ”.

(Excerpt from Tales of Eva Luna, by Isabel Allende)

In this case it is a sentence with several propositions joined by a connector (coordinated compound). Therefore, it has several nuclei: "you took away," "you plucked," "you pulled," and "you released. All of these verbs are transitive. The modifiers of the predicate are:

- "the girdle of the waist", direct object of the nucleus "you removed". It can be replaced by "la" (you took it off).

- «sandals», direct object of the nucleus «you started». It can be replaced by "las" (you ripped them off).

- «to a corner», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «you shot». It can be replaced by the adverb of place "there" (you threw your wide skirt there).

- «your wide skirt», direct object of the nucleus «you were shooting». It can be replaced by "la" (you threw it into a corner).

- «the knot that held your hair in a tail», a direct object of the nucleus «you let go». It can be substituted for "it" (and you let it go).

Example 2

"We were so close that we could not see each other, both absorbed in that urgent ritual, wrapped in the heat and the smell that we did together."

(Excerpt from Tales of Eva Luna, by Isabel Allende)

In this second sentence the core is "we were." Although other conjugated verbs appear ("we could", "we did"), these are part of the subordinate propositions. Thus, the modifiers of the predicate are:

- "so close that we couldn't see each other." (We were so close…).

- "absorbed in that urgent rite." (We were engrossed…).

- "wrapped in the heat and the smell that we made together." (We were involved…).

In all three cases the predicate modifiers are attributive complements, also called predicative complements. Note that on all three occasions they can be replaced by the adverb so “thus” (We were like this).

Example 3

"Nívea wept inconsolably and lit some candles to Saint Anthony, patron saint of lost things."

(Fragment of The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende)

In this third example, the sentence is coordinated compound and has two nuclei: it cried and it caught. Its modifiers are:

- «disconsolately», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «cried». Specifies the how (mode).

- «some candles», direct object of the nucleus «lit». It can be substituted for "las" (he turned them on).

- "to San Antonio, patron saint of lost things", indirect object of the nucleus "caught". It can be substituted for "him" (he lit some candles).

Note that the phrase "patron of lost things" is an explanatory appositive construction. In that case you are specifying the nominative phrase "San Antonio".

Example 4

"He showed up promptly at the site and did not even glance at the sky that was covered with gray clouds."

(Fragment of The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende)

In sentence number four there are also two nuclei: "appeared" and "gave." The modifiers of the predicate are:

- «punctually:», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «appeared». Specifies the how (mode).

- «on the spot», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «appeared». Specify the where (place).

- "a glance", direct object of the nucleus "gave". It can be replaced by "la" (he did not give it)

- «to the sky that was covered with gray clouds», indirect object of the nucleus «gave». It can be substituted for "him" (he didn't even glance at her).

Example 5

"At that time I was crazy to have a child and you fell into my arms sent by the Lord, to be educated in the solid principles of the Protestant faith and the English language."

(Fragment of Daughter of fortune, by Isabel Allende)

This fifth sentence is composed coordinated and has two nuclei: "was" and "fell." Its modifiers are:

- «At that time», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «was». Specifies the when (time).

- «crazy to have a child», attributive complement of the nucleus «was». It can be replaced by "like that" (At that time I was like that).

- «in my arms», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «you fell». Specify the where (place).

- «sent by the Lord», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «you fell». Specifies the how (mode).

- «to be educated in the solid principles of the Protestant faith and the English language», circumstantial complement of the nucleus «you fell». Specify the for what (purpose).

References

1. López, C.; Martínez Jiménez, JA and Torrecilla de Olmo F. ​​(2002). Grammar notebooks 2. Madrid: Ediciones AKAL.
2. Paredes Chavarría, EA (2002). Reading Handbook. Mexico City Editorial Limusa.
3. Faculty of General Studies Department of Spanish. (1994). Grammar notions and exercises manual: composition unit and other linguistic skills. Río Piedras: UPR.
4. Rodríguez Guzmán, JP (2005). Graphic grammar to the juampedrino mode. Barcelona: Carena Editions.
5. Benito Mozas, A. (1994). Syntax exercises. Theory and practice: Self-learning and self-assessment activities. Madrid: EDAF.
6. Martínez, H. (2005). Build well in Spanish: syntactic correction. Oviedo: Ediuno.