Descriptive Grammar of English II

Canonical vs. Non-canonical

Classify the underlined clauses below as canonical or non-canonical. For the non-canonical ones, say which non-canonical clause category or categories they belong.

1. Most of us enjoyed it very much. CANONICAL 2. Have you seen Tom recently? NON-CANONICAL (interrogative) 3. He tends to exaggerate. NON-CANONICAL (non-finite clause) 4. Who said she was ill? NON-CANONICAL (subordination) 5. Nobody liked it. NON-CANONICAL (negative) 6. They invited me, but I couldn’t go. NON-CANONICAL (negative & coordination) 7. This house was built by my grandfather. NON- CANONICAL (information packaging – passive) 8. It’s a pity you live so far away. NON-CANONICAL (information packaging – extraposition) 9. I’m sure she likes you. NON-CANONICAL (subordination) 10. Tell me what you want. NON-CANONICAL (imperative & subordination)

FROM Huddleston, R. & Pullum, G.K., 2005. A Student's Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge: CUP. (p.28)