English Complex Sentences With If-Unreal-Conditional Clauses: A Cognitive Grounding Approach

Within the framework of Cognitive Grounding Theory,this thesis discusses the inherent laws and cognitive relationships of English complex sentences with if-unreal-conditional clauses.English complex sentences with if-unreal-conditional clauses have long been a hot topic in English grammar studies.Previous studies have achieved fruitful accomplishments from philosophical approach,syntactic approach,pragmatic approach and cognitive approach.However,the cognitive motivations and realization paths need to be further explored.Grounding Theory means that an expression qualifies as a nominal or finite clause by grounding so that a basic connection between the interlocutors and the context evoked by a nominal or finite clause is established,which has a strong explanatory power for the cognitive motivations behind the linguistic phenomena.Based on the previous studies on Grounding Theory,this thesis argues that the grounding process involves the grounding power transmission,and further divides the grounding power into real grounding power and virtual grounding power.Then the thesis analyzes the English complex sentences with if-unreal-conditional clauses,specifically discussing the following two questions:(1)What are the grounding motivations of English complex sentences with if-unreal-conditional clauses?(2)What are the realization paths of grounding motivations?This thesis identifies itself as a qualitative study.The data are observed mainly from grammar books,including An Advanced Grammar of Contemporary English,A New Advanced English Grammar and A New English Grammar Coursebook(The Six Edition).The research findings are:(1)The grounding motivations of English complex sentences with if-unreal-conditional clauses lie in the transmissions of virtual grounding powers.To be specific,when it is present-against,the present virtual grounding power is transmitted;when it is past-against,the past virtual grounding power is transmitted;and when it is future-against,the future virtual grounding power is transmitted.(2)The realization paths of grounding motivations include tense and modality.Specifically,the transmission paths of the present and past virtual grounding powers are realized by tenses in subordinate clauses,but by modalities in subject clauses;the transmission path of the future virtual grounding power is realized by tense or modality in the subordinate clause,but by modality in the subject clause.The research significance of this study is mainly reflected in the following two aspects.Firstly,the thesis tries to propose the concept of the grounding power and divides it into real grounding power and virtual grounding power,which is beneficial to the further development of Grounding Theory.Secondly,the thesis enriches the research of English complex sentences with if-unreal-conditional clauses,and has referential significance for other related complex sentences.