ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale In our globalization, the need for developing the relationship between Vietnam and other countries has resulted in a great demand for language studying, especially English studying throughout the country. However, English and Vietnamese are two different languages. English has different characteristics from those of Vietnamese, for example the grammar, the vocabulary, the pronunciation, the meaning, etc. Anyway, whenever talking about characteristics of any language, we should mention the components forming the sentence of that language. They may be word phrases such as noun phrase, verb phrase, adjective phrase and adverb phrase, etc. Therefore, in order to have a deep look about the verb phrase of English as well as of Vietnamese, I decide to make a research with the topic “A contrastive analysis of English and Vietnamese verb phrases”. In this topic, I will present some general characteristics of the verb phrase in English and Vietnamese. The purpose of presenting them is to discuss the similarities and differences between them in two aspects: form and meaning. Also, I provide some implications for studying the verb phrase effectively in Vietnam. I hope that this research will help you distinguish the similarities as well as the differences between verb phrases of the two languages. Above all, I do this research with the hope that it can help my readers clearer about 1 all the similarities and differences of the verb phrase in English and Vietnamese so that they can avoid making mistakes in their translation between these two languages. 2. Scope of the assignment Due to the duration of time and the length as well as the references available, this assignment does focus on the forms and meanings of the verb phrase in English and Vietnamese. The scope of contrastive analysis is based on the following principles and aspects: - Contrastive analysis of signs and appearances. - Contrastive analysis of meanings of components. - Contrastive analysis of forms. 3. Methods of the study In studying process we have discussed and decided together some methods such as collecting information and data from the Internet, books, websites and finding document from the library. Apart from that, we have done exercises and discussed in group. In addition, we also consult suggestions from the teacher and ask for advice from the friends. To achieve the above aims, we also used to analyze and contrast a lot of verb phrases in English and Vietnamese. 2 II PART B DEVELOPMENT Chapter 1 LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Theoretical Background 1.1. What is the verb phrase? There are many definitions of verb phrases in every aspect. Firstly, it is necessary to understand what is verbs and phrase. According to Fundamentals of English Traditional Syntax adapted by Tran Huu Manh indicates “A verb is a word (or a part of speech) used to denote action or state, or, otherwise help to complete the meaning of the verb phrase” (Tran, 2008, p.35). In addition, a phrase is a group of words that have a function in a sentence; however, it does not have a subject and verb. If it had a subject and a verb, it would be a clause. Phrases can function in the sentence like nouns, adverbs, or adjectives. Moreover, as Wikipedia in 2009 defined that in linguistics, a verb phrase is a syntactic structure composed of the predicative elements of a sentence and its function is to provide information about the subject of the sentence. In the generative grammar framework, the verb phrase is a phrase headed by a verb. A verb phrase may be constructed from a single verb; often, however, the verb phrase will consist of various combinations of the main verb and any auxiliary verbs, plus optional specifiers, complements, and adjuncts. Especially, a verb phrase concludes three parts: the main verb, the pre-additive elements and the post-elements that express an action or state of being. 1.2. The verb phrase in English According to Kies (2009), an English verb phrase consists of a head verb, its 3 auxiliaries, its complements, and other modifiers. In general, it has two functional parts: the auxiliary verbs and the main verbs (lexical verbs). 1.2.1. The auxiliary verbs The auxiliary verb is the grammatical morpheme carrying information about mood, tense, modality, and voice. The mood system in English is divided into four subcategories. + The indicative mood conveys to the listeners that the speaker is making a statement, referring to the real world in an honest, direct, relevant way. One way in which it’s easier for learner to realize the indicative mood is thanks to the word order. When the auxiliaries take their "usual" position following the “subject”, we consider a clause as being in the indicative mood. For example: A: When will you stop by? B: Sometime after dinner. + The interrogative mood signals the speakers' desire for information by asking a question or interrogating the listeners. The interrogative is marked by starting a clause or a sentence with an auxiliary verb (can, 4 could, may, might, should, etc) or an interrogative pronoun (who, what, etc). Another signal that can help us realize the interrogative is the question mark at the end of the sentence. Can Rachel recognize him? Who will dance with Rachel? + The imperative mood expresses the speaker’s sense of a command, a request, or an exhortation. If it is seen a base verb in a clause or a sentence in the initial position, it will be an imperative: Forget that! Be polite with your teacher. + The subjunctive mood expresses the speakers’ sense of the unlikely things such as a wish, a prayer or a hope. It describes hypothetical or unreal situations. Speakers signal the subjunctive by using an auxiliary to begin subordinate clauses or using subordinators that overtly mark hypothetical conditions. Had I seen you at the party, I’d have introduced you my boyfriend. If I had a lot of money, I’d opened a café. - Tense systems mark time. Tense is an inflection on the verb that indicates the time reference of the expression. In English, the first verb of a verb phrase is marked for tense, called “finite” verb. Verbs that do not carry a tense inflection (such as participles) are called “nonfinite” verbs. English has three tenses: past, present and future. In most English verbs, the -ed inflection marks the past tense, the -s inflection marks the present tense. Meanwhile, before the base verb, modal auxiliary verbs (like will) or phrasal verbs (like is going to - often phonologically reduced to gonna) are used in order to refer to the future tense. Actually, 5 looking at the formation of the future tense, people commonly call the “future” in English is really a part of the modality system of the language. She went to school yesterday. ( Past tense) She often goes to school by bus. ( Present tense) She will go to school tomorrow. ( Future tense) Verbs, using both the -s and -ed forms are known as “regular” verbs. According to marking time, those verbs employ the most common and productive inflection, such as look/ looked, like/ liked, try/ tried. “Irregular verbs”, on the other hand, fall into seven subcategories. For examples, they employ a number of inflections (such as -en for the participle inflection as in broken, written, taken) or in some classes employ no participle inflections at all (such as put as in “ Rachel put the book on the table yesterday”/ “Rachel puts the book on the table”/ “Rachel has put the book on the table”). - The modality system expresses the speakers’ sense of obligation, volition, probability, permission, and ability. When you see a formation including modal auxiliary and base verb, it is a modality. Rachel (must/ should) go. ("Obligation") Rachel will stop that immediately! ("Volition") Rachel (may/ might) go. ("Probability") Rachel (can/ may) go. ("Permission") Rachel (can/ could) do it. ("Ability") Rachel will do it tomorrow. ("Future"). (The modal will also express a 'future' sense.) The modality system also includes a class of auxiliary verbs called semi- auxiliaries (or semi-modals or quasi-modals). They often take the form of BE + PARTICIPLE + TO. The semi-auxiliaries, starting with be, do not 6 need do in order to support in negation or question formation, but most of the others do. - Aspect expresses either the completion or the continuation of the process indicated by the verb in English. - The perfect aspect which expresses the speakers' sense of completion, is signaled by the use of a form of the auxiliary have and the -ed participle or irregular participle (have + V-ed/3). Rachel has just finished her homework. Rachel had gone to bed before her parents went home. - The progressive aspect, which expresses the speakers' sense of continuation, is signaled by the use of a form of the auxiliary be and the -ing participle (be + V-ing). Rachel is listening to music at the moment. - Voice systems allow speakers to view the action of the sentence in different ways without changing the meaning. English has two voices, active and passive. The passive voice is signaled by the use of a form of be and the -ed participle (be + V-ed). Rachel has read the book four 2 days. (Active voice) The book has been read in four 2 days by Rachel. (Passive voice) In the active sentence, we can see the event from the perspective of the doer (Rachel), but in the passive sentence, we see the event from the perspective of the goal (the book). - English also employs the verb do to function as a supporting auxiliary in verb phrases. In other words, we need do in negation and question formation. Rachel loves Joe. Rachel doesn’t love Joe. 7 Does Rachel love Joe? 1.2.2. The main verbs The most important part in a verb phrase is the head word. We call them main verbs or lexical verbs. The main verb is a lexical morpheme carrying its lexical information and, usually, an inflection. In English, the main verb includes five types: - Intransitive verbs are the verbs used without direct object such as come, go, move and so on; for example, “Rachel has just move”. - Intensive verbs are the verbs used with complement or adverb such as to be, become Rachel becomes more attractive than ever. - Monotransitive verbs are the verbs used with direct object such as buy, sell Rachel has just sold her house. - Complex transitive verbs: the verbs are used with direct object and complement or adverb such as paint, call, vote, appoint, elect Rachel calls her dog Jack. Rachel paints her room black. - Distransitive verbs: the verbs are used with indirect object and direct object such as give, offer, bring Rachel gives Joe a piece of cake. + Distransive verb: gives + Direct object: Joe + Indirect object: a piece of cake To sum up, in any English verb phrases, auxiliary is an optional component but main verb is always an obligatory component. 1.3. The verb phrase in Vietnamese 8 Verb phrases in Vietnamese include three elements: central element, pre- additive element and post-additive element. - The central element of Vietnamese verb phrases is divided into five groups. Group 1: This kind of verb usually goes with other verbs, not standing alone. It includes many different types: ● Modal verbs: phải, nên, cần, dám, có thể, sẽ, định Anh ta cần mua một cái bàn. Cần is the central element. ● Passive: bị, được, mắc, phải Cô ấy được tuyên dương. Được is the central element. ● Verb phrases with two parallelly existential actions: đứng khóc, nằm ngủ, đi học, đi chơi, ngồi nghe Anh ta nằm ngủ trên ghế sofa. Nằm ngủ is the central element. ● Verb phrases with two actions described by two verbs but the second verb is an additive element in sense: ăn đứng, ngã ngồi, đặt nằm, chết đứng Vấp hòn đá, nó ngã ngồi. Ngã is the central element and ngồi is the additive element. Group 2: Verbs always go with additive elements. ● Verbs describing sense of moving: mở, dậy, kéo, đến, xuống, đi, bưng… Chị tôi đi đến câu lạc bộ tiếng Anh. Đi is the central element and đến is additive element. ● Verbs describing sense of achieving results: hiểu ra, đọc xong, bay mất, nhặt lấy, thu được, tìm thấy Tôi đã tìm thấy cái ví. Tìm is the central element and thấy is the additive element. 9 ● Verbs describing sense of affecting two objects: cho, tặng, biếu, lấy, mượn, vay, cầm, xin, gửi Minh mượn Trí chiếc xe đạp. + Central element: mượn + Object 1: Trí + Object 2: chiếc xe đạp ● Verbs describing sense of governing two objects. The subject orders the object: bảo, sai, bắt, cho phép, buộc, khiến. Cô ấy bắt tôi nói ra sự thật. Bắt is the central element. ● Verbs describing sense of governing an object and connecting with another object: trộn, pha, nối, chắp, hòa Pha cà phê với sữa. + Pha is the central element. + Cà phê and sữa are objects ● Verbs describing sense of governing additive elements. The structure which is used is “A is B” with the meaning of evaluating: coi, bầu, lấy, xem, cử… Xem anh là đối tác. Lấy anh làm gương. Group 3: Combination verbs: chạy ra chạy vào, bàn qua bàn lại, đi ngược về xuôi, trèo lên tụt xuống Cô ấy chạy ra chạy vào phục vụ khách. Group 4: Verbs describing sense of the state or a period of an action: bắt đầu học, tiếp tục đi, thôi nói, hết chạy, ngừng học Cô ấy ngừng học piano. Group 5: Verbs describing sense of mood: lo lắng, bồn chồn, thoi thóp, thấp 10 [...]... characteristics of language is not simple at all Actually, English and Vietnamese are different languages For this reason, it is obvious that each of them has its own characteristics That’s reason why making a comparison between the two languages is very difficult In this research paper, the author offered some general knowledge about the verb phrase in English and Vietnamese as well as the contrast... phrases Through this paper, the author intends to contrast between English and Vietnamese verb phrases in two aspects: form and meaning The first aspect to take into consideration when contrasting between English and Vietnamese verb phrases is their forms Learners can easily recognize that both English and Vietnamese verb phrases have three parts: the central element, the pre-additive element, and. .. different verb phrases that go with different prepositions In general, there are two types of them: prepositional verbs and phrasal verbs (Ha, 1999) Both of their forms consist of a head verb and a preposition, but their meanings are completely different Prepositional verb just have normal 16 meaning of a verb with its preposition, for example: laugh at, listen to, wait for and so on In contrast, every phrasal... Secondly, the awareness of Vietnamese and English verb phrases also helps students develop linguistic skills in both languages Contrastive knowledge in students’ mother tongue and the target language somehow also gives them a clear distinction in order to help them avoid mistakes as much as possible as well as use and transfer languages more confidently and effectively Thirdly, one of the most important things... paper, the author describes the main characteristics of Vietnamese and English verb phrases and discusses some implications for studying the verb phrase in our country Firstly, most students tend to transfer their mother tongue into the target language Within this paper, we can see that although the components which form both Vietnamese and English verb phrases are almost the same, the structure is a little... for example: listen to, believe in, approve of, respond to, compare to, introduce to… In addition, there are similarities and differences in form of each part between two languages In both languages, the central part must contain head verbs, some of which must be followed by objects and some of which may not However, in English verb phrases, it contains only one head verb but not a series of verbs... show different meanings, such as make up, make from, make of, make for, and make off All of them have different meanings Moreover, the meaning of English auxiliaries is much more diversified Although some auxiliaries such as “must, might, need, ought to, should” have the same meaning of obligation to do something, their usage depends on the level of obligation, for example, the meaning of “must” shows... English- Vietnamese verb phrases as well as provide some useful ideas for language students REFERENCES Beare, K (2009) Verb Structures and Patterns Retrieved December 15th, 2009, from http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa05290 2a. htm ESLDESK English Verbs Retrieved December 25th, 2009 from http://www.esldesk.com/grammar/verbs James, Carl (1980) Contrastive Analysis Macquarie University Kies, Daniel (1995)... the post-additive element Among them, the central element must be a verb and it is obligatory while two parts of additive elements can be optional to go with the head verb However, English has the notion of tense such as present tense, past tense and future tense but Vietnamese do not In addition, English verb phrases change their form to mark different tenses For example: I am sitting beside Mary (The... phrasal verb has specific meaning, for example: “put off” means “ postpone”, “turn down” means “ refuse”, “pass away” means “die” and many examples like that PART III: CONCLUSION In conclusion, the verb phrase is a very important component to form sentences Language is the most effective method of communication of human beings However, to understand the structure, the formation, the origin, especially . forms and meanings of the verb phrase in English and Vietnamese. The scope of contrastive analysis is based on the following principles and aspects: - Contrastive analysis of signs and appearances. -. English as well as of Vietnamese, I decide to make a research with the topic A contrastive analysis of English and Vietnamese verb phrases . In this topic, I will present some general characteristics. the teacher and ask for advice from the friends. To achieve the above aims, we also used to analyze and contrast a lot of verb phrases in English and Vietnamese. 2 II PART B DEVELOPMENT Chapter