Discourse and
Grammar
Presented
by:
• Yassine Aouam
• Rajae Elhalouani
• Aymane Kelkhi
• Hajar Qallali
1
Content
• Ellipsis and
Substitution
• Conjunction
• Theme and Rheme
• Tense and Aspect
2
Ellipsis and
Substitution
3
Content
• Definition of Ellipsis
• Types of Ellipsis
• What is Substitutio?
• Types of Substitution
• Applicatin of Ellipsis and
Substitution
4
What is
Ellipsis?
5
Ellipsis refers to the omission of
words, phrases, or clauses in a
sentence or text that are
understood from the context.
6
Types of
Ellipsis:
• Nominal Ellipsis: Omission of a noun or noun
phrase.
• Verbal Ellipsis: Omission of a verb or part of a
verb phrase.
• Clausal Ellipsis: Omission of a clause or parts of
a clause.
7
Examples of
EX.
Ellipsis:
1 • “What man dost thou dig it
for?”no man, sir.”
• “For
EX.
2 • “You are the last man,” said O’Brien.
“You are the guardian of the human
spirit.”
• “Perhaps
”
8
What is
Substitution?
9
Substitution refers to the omission
of words, phrases, or clauses in a
sentence or text that are
understood from the context.
10
Types of
Substitution:
• Nominal Substitution: The replacement of a
noun or noun phrase.
• Verbal Substitution: The Replacement of a verb
or a verb phrase.
• Clausal Substitution: The Replacement of a
clause by another element.
11
Examples of
EX.
Ellipsis:
1 • I like cakes, especially chocolate cakes.
I like cakes, especially chocolate ones.
EX.
2 • A: Is the train late? It seems the train is late.
• B: Is the train late? It seems so.
12
The Role of Ellipsis and Substitution in
Discourse
13
• Developing Listening and Reading
Comprehension
• Enhancing Text Cohesion
• Better understand native speakers and
authentic texts.
• Speak and write more naturally and
effectively.
14
Conjunctions in Discourse
Analysis
15
What is a conjunction?
• Conjunctions are linguistic elements linking two or
more words, phrases, clauses, or sentences within a
larger unit or discourses to establish a specific
semantic relation between them. In the literature,
conjunctions are called “connectives” and
“linkers.” Maura ¨( 2017) .
16
Conjunctions in Discourse
Conjunction words are linking devices between
sentences or clauses in a text. Unlike the other
grammatical devices, conjunctions express the
‘logical-semantic’ relation between sentences
rather than between words and structures.
(Halliday & Hasan, 1976)
Conjunctions in Discourse 17
Conjunction words are linking devices
between sentences or clauses in a text.
Unlike the other grammatical devices,
conjunctions express the ‘logical-semantic’ Discourse
relation between sentences rather than markers
between words and structures.
(Halliday & Hasan, 1976)
18
Types of Conjunctions
Elaboratio Enhanceme
Extension
n nt
To add precision, give Extension adds new time, cause,
examples, or elaborate
or contrasting condition, or
on an earlier point
without adding new information to an manner temporal
content. idea. context..
Types of Conjunctions 19
Additive Adversative Causal Temporal
connect units that
Express contrasting Introduce results, Express the time
share semantic
results or opinions, reasons, or order of events such
similarity e.g. and,
e.g. But, however, purposes, e.g. so, as, finally, then,
likewise,
in contrast, thus, therefore, soon, at the same
furthermore, in
whereas, etc because, etc time, etc
addition, etc
Practical part 20
1. I enjoy both playing basketball _____ soccer.
A)and B) but C) or D) nor
1. I enjoy both playing basketball __and ___ soccer. Additive
2. She is not only a talented singer _____ also a skilled dancer.
A) but B) and C) or D) so
2. She is not only a talented singer ___but __ also a skilled dancer. Adversative
3. I will come to the party _____ I finish my work on time.
A) but B) so C) or D) yet
21
• I will come to the party ___yet __ I finish my work on time. Adversative
22
•However , While, Whilst
•Classification: Adversative
So
•Classification: Causal
•Explanation: Indicates a cause-and-effect relationship.
•Which (used in a non-restrictive clause)
•Classification: Additive (relative clause functioning to add
information)
23
Theme and
Rheme
content 24
Definition of Theme and Rheme
Examples
Practice 1
Types of Theme
Practice2
26
What is a Rheme ?
Theme is the given information serving
as “the point of message departure”.
(Halliday and Matthienson, 2004)
• The theme can be identified the first element
or elements of a clause or a sentence.
What is a 27
Rheme ?
Rheme is the remainder of the message
in the clause. It is where the theme is
developed.( Halliday and Hasan, 2004)
THEME AND 28
RHEME
• The relation between the Theme of a sentence and
the Rheme is best represented by the following;
• The Theme is “what I am talking about”
• The Rheme is “what I am saying about it”
• sentence = Theme + Rheme
Examples of sentences devided into
their Theme and Rheme.
o Gemma is playing with marbles later that day.
o later that day, Gemma played with marbles.
o Dave is short for David.
PRACTICE 1: 29
1. Identify the theme in the following sentences:
• The donkey ate the carrot.
• The donkey which is in the field ate the carrot.
• Emma come here please.
• Honestly, I’m dishonest.
• let’s barbecue some beef.
• Nevertheless unfortunately David will lose an arm.
• Nice, you ought to be to people.
Practice 1 correction 30
• The donkey ate the carrot.
• The donkey which is in the field ate the carrot.
• Emma come here please.
• Honestly, I am dishonest.
• let’s barbecue some beef.
• Nevertheless unfortunately David will lose an arm.
Types of Themes 31
Topical Themes
Interpersonal Themes
Textual Themes
Topical Themes 32
• A sentence or a clause in the English language is divided into two parts
the Theme + the Rheme
• The Topical theme exists in all clauses. It is also embedded in other
types of theme; so it is the essential or the minimal theme for a
sentence
• Topical themes can be the participants typically the subject of a
sentence. Ex “Jamal ate a carrot” jamal in this sentence is the theme
• Topical themes can be a circumstance. Ex “ In the field Jamal ate the
carrot”
• Topical themes can also be a process. Ex “ Hungrily, Jamal ate the
carrot”
33
• Topical themes can also be classified by being marked or unmarked
• If the theme happens to serve as the subject of a sentence it is called an
unmarked theme.
• If the theme happens to be different than the subject of the sentence it
is called a marked theme, as there is a need to draw attention to it; so it
supersedes to subject
Interpersonal Themes 34
They are words used at the beginning of a sentence to show the speaker
or the author’s stance or emotion or relation between participants of a
certain context. These occur before a topical theme.
Ex 1 “ Maybe she is pregnant”
Ex 2 “ sarah! Come here “
• Modal adjuncts; Ex: “honestly, I hate the color brown”
• Vocatives; this kind of interpersonal themes also occur before a
topical theme. They are names or nicknames.
Ex: “ karen, come here please”
• Finite verbs; if a sentence starts with a finite verb Ex “didn’t we agree
to do this together”
35
Textual Theme
• Textual themes relate a clause to its context. They usually at the
beginning of a clause. They are used to relate a clause(complex)
with a preceding one and are typically realized by a conjunction
and continuatives (Garot, Wignell. 1994)
1. Continuatives; these are words used to signal a new move or a
change in action. Ex; ok, anyway, let’s, well, right, of course…
2. Conjuctions; are words used to establish a logical link between
clauses. Ex; and, because, so, but…
Practice 2 36
1. Categorize the following sentence into the correct themes:
o Well, alternatively, Mary surely isn’t the best thing happening to you.
37
practice 2 correction
Well alternatively Mary surely isn’t the best thing happening to you?
Cont conj voc mod fin
textual interpersonal topical
Theme Rheme
38
Tense and
Aspect
15
Content
• Definition of Tense
• Tense and Time
• What is Aspect?
• Types of Aspect
• Aspect and the speaker’s
interpretation
13
What is
Tense?
14
Tense is « a grammatical category that
locates a situation in time, to indicate
when an event or action takes place,such
as in the past, present, or future »
(Comerie, 1985).
• It is typically marked morphologically
on the verb, distinguishing categories
like past, present, and future
15
Are tense and time the
same?
16
Aspect Tense Time
Linguistic / Conceptual/
Nature
Grammatical Universal
Representatio Expressed through Exists independently of
n verb forms language
Morning, Yesterday,
Examples I eat (Present Tense)
Next year.
17
What is
Aspect?
18
Aspect refers to «the grammatical
category that encodes the temporal
flow or structure of an event, such as its
completion, duration, or repetition, as
perceived or expressed by the speaker»
(Bybee, Perkins, & Pagliuca, 1994).
19
Aspect Definition
Simple Describes actions or states as facts
Focuses on actions happening at a
Progressive
specific moment in time
Describes completed actions with
Perfect
relevance to another time
Perfect Describes actions that were ongoing but
progressive complete or still continuing
Aspect and the 20
speaker’s
• The use of interpretation
aspects in English depends on how
the speaker interprets and wants to present the
action.
• Here is how aspects align with their intended
interpretation in commnication:
A: Where do you B: I am living in
live? Spain.
Ex 2: I sit here
I am sitting here.
References
• Michael McCARTHY. (1991). Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers.
• Englishan. (n.d.). Conjunctions worksheet and exercises. Englishan.
• https://englishan.com/conjunctions-worksheet-and-exercises/
• McCarthy, M. (1991). Discourse analysis for language teachers. Cambridge University Press.
• https
://global-exam.com/blog/en/english-grammar-simple-or-progressive-aspects-learn-the-differences/#:~:text=How%20Many%20Aspects%20and%20
Tenses,%2C%20Perfect%2C%20and%20Perfect%20Progressive.&
text=The%20simple%20aspect%20is%20used%20to%20describe%20facts%20and%20habits
• Bybee, J., Perkins, R., & Pagliuca, W. (1994). The Evolution of Grammar: Tense, Aspect, and Modality in the Languages of the World.
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/tense
• Halliday, matthienson. 2004
• Halliday, hasan. 2004
• Garot, Wignell1994
• https://youtu.be/8t-vbNlRsXg?si=rqvT-zxXEiVYDyQq
• https://youtu.be/46uI2RWsg1M?si=VPfukJA1crT5HTIr
• https://youtu.be/nb0B3LoqnV0?si=ng76y84EodZZpXGJ
THANK YOU