Study On The Function Of Nominal Period-of-Time Words

The nominal period-of-time words is a kind of more especial words, it hasseveral syntax functions. In concrete sentence, the nominal period-of-time words notonly can act as subject,attribute,object,but also can act as adverbial and complement.But, when the nominal period-of-time words carries out above-mentioned syntaxfunctions, they will be subjected to limit in many ways. The category of the predicate verb decides whether the period-of-time words canappear in the sentence first, then decides syntax positions which they can appear inthe sentence;Moreover, the concrete semanteme and the styles of the verb can alsoaffect and change the syntax positions of the period-of-time words, thus changing thesyntax functions of the period-of-time words. Thus, the period-of-time words willhave different distributing conditions in those sentences which different kinds of verbsact as predicate. Because the semantic role as which the period-of-time words act ,matching withbase syntax components such as subject, object and so on , is in the inferior positioncontrasting with agentive, objective, participation and other semantic roles. So, as arule, when the period-of-time words appear with other semantic roles before predicateverb, they are difficult to take up the position of the NP1. Only they appear with theplace component together, the positions of the two are free. The function of the period-of-time words is restricted by rhythm. The rhythmmentioned in this essay does not refer to sound phenomena such as consonantsyllable,vowel syllable and so on but relatively complicated and disciplinary rhythmphenomena just like rhythm,accent and so on. Rhythm is not passively restricted tosyntax just like what known as usual. It can give limit to syntax. It behaves as follows:It can change the syntax construct and make the primary word order changed. Inanother word, it can force the syntax position of period-of-time words to transfer, thuschange their syntax function.