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left out or ellipsed, generally consist of two pivotal constituent : a Subject and a Finite. In addition to these pivotal constituents, we also generally find a
Predicator, and some combination of Complements or Adjuncts. Eggins and Slade, 1997 Below we will briefly define and exemplify each of these elements,
indicating their typical functions in conversation.
2.5.2.1. Subject
The subject is pivotal participant in the clause the person or thing that the proposition is concerned with and without whose presence there could be no
argument or negotiation. A conversation cannot proceed unless a Subject is proposed. The identification criteria is that the subject is generally a nominal
element : i.e. a noun or pronoun. If there is only one nominal element in a clause, it will be the Subject provided there has been no ellipses .
Turn Speaker Text
37 Brad
i Oh it’s….RUBBISH…. ii One of them is alright, iii one of them is actually good.
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 76
2.5.2.2. Finite
The finite expresses the process part of the clause that makes it possible to argue about the Subject participant. The identification criteria is that the finite is
always a verbal element, i.e. it is always realized through a verbal group. The verbal group in a clause is the sequence of words which indicate the process,
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action or state that the Subject is engaged in. Verbal groups in clauses may consist of one word only, for example verbal groups in italics, Finite underlined
Turn Speaker Text
1 Brad
iii He plays the guitar.
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 77 They may also consist of more than one word, for example :
Turn Speaker Text
94 Brad
i They mightn’t have had a degree in Biology. ii They might have just.
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 77
Where the verbal group consists of more than one word, the Finite is always and only the first element in this verbal group, and corresponds to what is
traditionally called the ‘auxiliary verb’. Where the verbal group consists of only one word as is the
case in the simple present or simple past tenses then the Finite is realized in that single word.
2.5.2.3.Predicator
The predicator encodes the action or process involved in the clause. It gives content to the verbal element of the proposition, telling listeners what or was
happening. The identification criteria is that like the Finite, the predicator is
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expressed within the verbal group. This means that part of the verbal group is expressing the Finite, and part is expressing the Predicator. The verbal group may
consist of a single word or several words. When there is no more than one element within the verbal group, the Predicator is all the constituents of the verbal group
minus the Finite, which is always the first verbal element. When there is only one constituent in the verbal group , then that constituent is functioning both as Finite
and as Predicator. This is the case with the simple present or the simple past tense form of a verb. For example Predicator underlined, verbal group in italics :
Turn Speaker Text
64 Brad
i He sits, ii he sits in a room and, and the iii and decides
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 78 The predicator in clauses i, ii and iii is a single lexical item, so sits
and decides function as both Finite and as Predicator. These tests identify the Predicator do not apply to the verbs to be and to have as these verbs do not have a
Predicator element in the present simple or simple past tense. Their verbal groups can be considered to express only a Finite element. For example :
Turn Speaker Text
64 Brad
iv “I think v therefore I am….”
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 79 In the first clause think encodes both a Finite and a Predicator element,
but in the second clause am is only a Finite, and the clause has no Predicator.
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While the Finite element serves to anchor the Subject of the talk by specifying such dimension as polarity, tense and number, the Predicator gives content or
representational meaning to the process the Subject is engaged in. Like all elements of the clause, it can become the focus of negotiation, as in the following
exchange from the example : Turn Speaker
Text 83
84 Brad
Fran i Yeah but you can’t teach ii if you
haven’t got a Diploma in Education. i They’re not teaching though. ii But
they’re administering teachers.
. Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 79
Here Fran does not react to Brad’s turn by negotiating the Subject-Finite e.g. Can’t you ? Haven’t they ? . Instead she revises his Predicator teaching to
administering. The reason that her response sounds like a side-step is exactly because she has chosen to negotiate the less pivotal element of Predicator.
2.5.2.4. Complement
