Name

Student Number
Class
Subject

: Hamid Darmadi
: F2201141022
:B
: Grammar for EFL Students

ANALYZING THE RANK SCALE OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR THROUGH

NARRATIVE TEXT AS AN EFL (ENGLISH FOREIGN LANGUAGE) STUDENTS

A. Introduction
English Grammar is one of linguistic needs for studying English. Especially
for many EFL students, English grammar was known in semantic way. (Feng, Z: 86)
This article illustrates the point to study English grammar in syntactical way. This
article aims to distinguish sentence, clause, phrase, word and morpheme in the scope
of rank scale of linguistic units. It is also to analyze its syntactical function through
narrative text. Narrative text was chosen because it is interesting to read such text.
Hopefully, this study examines our better understanding of what constitutes in English
Grammar.

B. Units and The rank scale

According to G. David Morley (2000: 24) and Downing, A with Locke, P

(2006: 11) there is a relationship between units such as sentence, clause, group, word
and morpheme. This study is in the meaning of syntax functions. It is because syntax
is being concern as one of levels in language analysis. There are phonology,
morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Morley define a unit as a stretch of
language which itself carries grammatical patterns or which operates in grammatical
patterns. This reason had brought rank scale in term of grammatical hierarchy.
Further, this cause the largest of the four units will be sentences and the smallest one
is morpheme.
Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (2002: 535)
confirm that, syntax i s concerning about the ways in which words combine to form
sentences and the rules which govern the formation of sentence, making some
sentences possible and others not possible within a particular language. The writer

want to simplify its meaning in this study that syntax is the rules to specify the
arrangement of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.
In grammatical hierarchy (rank scale) refer to Downing and Locke, morphemes
are the smallest units (of grammar) and the sentences are the highest in rank.
Morphemes combine to form words, words combine to form groups, groups combine to
form clauses, and clauses combine to form sentences. In other words, a sentence
consists of clauses, which consist of groups, groups consist of words and words are
formed by the combination of morphemes. Each unit consists of units of low rank
which are next down the scale, a unit provides the constituents of the unit next above.

1. Type of Sentences:
A sentence is an independent linguistic form, not included by virtue of any
grammatical construction in any larger linguistic form. Sentence, the highest
unit in the grammatical hierarchy, may also be defined in orthographic terms,
that is, as anything which is contained between a capital letter and a full stop.
The sentence types were as follow:

a. A simple sentence consists of only one finite verb:

For Examples: Water boils at 100oC.
You must not say such things.

The term simple refers to the fact that the sentence contains only one
finite verb. In other words a simple sentence consists of a single clause,
the main clause, with no subordinate clause. A simple sentence has only one
subject and one predicate.
b. A compound sentence consists of two or more simple sentences linked by
the coordinating conjunctions: and, but, so, either, or, neither, nor, then and
yet.
For examples:
He ran out and he fell over the suit case.
She arrived at nine, went up to her room and did not come down until now.
c. A complex sentence consists of one simple sentence and one or more
subordinate clauses.

For example:
She became queen when her father died because she was the eldest
child

We have one clause, She became queen and two subordinate

clauses: when her father died and because she was the eldest child. It is
to be noticed that in this example each clause has a finite verb,
became, died and was, and each subordinate clause begin with a
subordinating conjunction. The common subordinate conjunctions in English
are: after, although, though, as, because, before, if, since, until, till,
when, where, whether. or not, which/that, while.
2.

Clause is a group of words that forms a part of a sentence which has

Subject and a Predicate
A clause is a group of words which contains a finite verb. Only an
independent clause also called a main clause can occur in isolation. A dependent
or a subordinate clause cant occur in isolation.
For Examples:
He believed that the earth was round.

In each complex sentence we have at least one main clause and at least one
subordinate clause. A subordinate clause is a group of words that has a subject
part and a predicate part, but it cannot stand alone. It does not express a complete
thought. It is always combined with an independent clause. (Wren & Martin,
English Grammar & Composition: ).
The following types of subordinate clauses are:
a. A noun clause is group of words containing a finite verb and
functioning like a noun.
For example:
He said that he was tired.
What you said was not true.

A noun clause is group of words which contains a subject and a

predicate of its own and does the work of a noun. (Wren & Martin, English

Grammar & Composition: 190.)

b. An adverb clause functions like an adverb in giving information about when,
where, why, how or if an action occurred.
For example:
When he arrived we were all sleeping.
They won the match because they were the best players.
c. An adjective clause is often called a relative clause because it usually relates
back to a noun whose meaning it modifies.
For example:
The man who taught my brother French is now the headmaster.

An adjective clause is a group of words which contains a Subject and

a Predicate of its own, and does the work of an Adjective. ((Wren & Martin,
English Grammar & Composition: 188)
C. Selected text
The Wise King
"Hello everybody, come and visit my restaurant. | I have delicious food for
you," Pak Razak is standing in front of his restaurant. | He is inviting people to come
and eat at his place. | A moment later a farmer comes. | He is standing in front of the
restaurant. | He smells the aroma of the delicious food. | "Hmm...yummy," says the
farmer. |
"Hey! What are you doing? |Do you want to come to my restaurant or not?' asks Pak
Razak. | "No, I don't. |Smelling the aroma of your delicious food makes me feel full,"
says the farmer. | "But you still have to pay! You smell my delicious food," Pak
Razak is angry. | "No way! I don't want to pay! It's impossible!" The farmer is also
angry. |
Then Pak Razak and the farmer have an argument. | People come and ask to
calm down. | They suggest Pak Razak and the farmer go to the King to solve the
problem. | "Please tell me what happened, asks the King. | Pak Razak and the farmer
tell the King about the problem. | "Hmm...I have the solution. | Now put your coins
into this bottle." |

"Do you hear the sound of the coins?" asks the King to Pak Razak. | "Yes, I do,"
answers Pak Razak. | "Then, the farmer has just paid you. | He pays your delicious
aroma with the sound of his money," explains the King. | Pak Razak is silent. | He
knows the King is right. | The King just gave him a lesson. | He then apologizes to the
farmer. |
(Taken from: http://indonesianfolklore.blogspot.com/search/label/West%20Kalimantan)

D. Grammatical analysis
a. Hello everybody, come and visit my restaurant.

b.

Clause :
-

Hello everybody,

Come and visit my restaurant

My restaurant ; noun phrase

Hello ; interpersonal adverb

Everybody ; indefinite pronoun

Come ; verb

And ; coordinating conjunction

Visit ; verb

My ; possessive pronoun

Restaurant ; noun

Phrases :

Words :

Morphemes : Hello | everybody| come | and | visit | my | restaurant |

I have delicious food for you," Pak Razak is standing in front of his
restaurant.

Clause :
-

I have delicious food for you

Pak Razak is standing in front of his restaurant

Delicious food ; noun phrase

In front of his restaurant ; prepositional phrase

Phrases :

Words :
-

I ; personal pronoun

Have ; Auxiliary verb

Delicious ; adjective

Food ; noun

For ; preposition

You ; personal pronoun

Pak Razak ; proper noun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Standing ; verb

In front of ; preposition

His ; possessive pronoun

Restaurant ; noun

Morphemes : I | have | delicious | food | for | you | Pak | Razak | is |

stand|ing | in | front | of | his | restaurant |

c.

He is inviting people to come and eat at his place.

Clause :
-

He is inviting people

to come and eat at his place

At his place ; prepositional phrase

He ; personal pronoun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Inviting ; verb

People ; noun

To come ; non-finite verb

And ; coordinating conjunction

Eat ; verb

At ; preposition

His ; possessive pronoun

Place ; noun

Phrases :

Words :

Morphemes : He | is | invit|ing | people | to | come | and | eat | at | his | place

|

d. A moment later a farmer comes.

e.

A moment later a farmer comes

A moment later ; Subordinator phrase

A ; indefinite article

Moment ; noun

Later ; subordinate conjunction

A ; indefinite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Comes ; verb

Phrases :

Words :

Morphemes : A | moment | later | a | farmer | come|s |

He is standing in front of the restaurant.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

f.

Clause :

He ; personal pronoun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Standing ; verb

In front of ; preposition

The ; definite article

Restaurant ; noun

Morphemes : He | is | stand|ing | in | front | of | the | restaurant |

He smells the aroma of the delicious food.

Clause :
-

He smells the aroma

Of the delicious food

g.

Phrases :
-

The aroma of the delicious food ;

He ; personal pronoun

Smells ; verb

The ; definite article

Aroma ; noun

Of ; preposition

The ; definite article

Delicious ; adjective

Food ; noun

Words :

Morphemes : He | smell|s | the | aroma | of | the | delicious | food |

Yummy, says the farmer.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

Yummy, says the farmer ;

Yummy ; interjection

Says ; verb

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Morphemes : Yummy | say|s | the | farmer |

h. Hey! What are you doing?

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :
-

Hey ; interpersonal adverb

What ; interrogative pronoun

Are ; auxiliary verb

You ; personal pronoun

Doing ; verb


i.

Morphemes : Hey | What | are | you | doing |

Do you want to come to my restaurant or not?' asks Pak Razak.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

Do you want to come to my restaurant or not?

asks Pak Razak ;

Do ; auxiliary verb

You ; personal pronoun

Want ; marginal modals verb

To come ; non-finite

To ; preposition

My ; possessive pronoun

Restaurant ; noun

Or ; coordinating conjunction

Not ; negative

Asks ; verb

Pak Razak ; proper noun

Morphemes : Do | you | want | to | come | to | my | restaurant | or | not |

ask|s | Pak | Razak |

j. No, I don't.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

No, I do not ;

No ; interpersonal adverb

I ; personal pronoun

Dont ; negative auxiliary verb

Morphemes : No | I | don|t |

k. Smelling the aroma of your delicious food makes me feel full, says the farmer.

Clause :
-

Smelling the aroma of your delicious food ;

Makes me feel full ;

Says the farmer ;

The aroma of your delicious food ; noun phrase

Makes me feel full ; verb phrase

Smelling ; verb

The ; definite article

Aroma ; noun

Of ; preposition

Your ; possessive pronoun

Delicious ; adjective

Food ; noun

Makes ; verb

Me ; personal pronoun

Feel ; verb

Full ; adjective

Says ; verb

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Phrases :

Words :

Morphemes : Smelling | the | aroma | of | your | delicious | food | make|s |

me | feel | full | say|s | the | farmer |

l. But you still have to pay

Clause :

Phrases :

Still have to pay ; verb phrase

But ; coordinative conjunction

You ; personal pronoun

Still ; adverb

Words :

Have to ; phrasal auxiliaries

Pay ; verb

Morphemes : But | you | still | have | to | pay |

m. You smell my delicious food, Pak Razak is angry.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

You smell my delicious food

Pak razak is angry

You ; personal pronoun

Smell ; verb

My ; possessive pronoun

Delicious ; adjective

Food ; noun

Pak Razak ; proper noun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Angry ; adjective

Morphemes : You | smell | my | delicious | food | Pak | Razak | is | angry |

n. No way!

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

No way

No way ; exclamative pronoun

Morphemes : No | way |

o. I don't want to pay!

Clauses :

Phrases :

Words :

I dont want to pay

I ; personal pronoun

Dont ; negative auxiliary verb

Want ; marginal modal verb

To pay ; non-finite verb

Morphemes : I | don|t | want | to | pay |

p. It's impossible!

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

It is impossible

It ; personal pronoun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Impossible ; adjective

Morphemes : It|s | im|possible |

q. The farmer is also angry.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

The farmer is also angry

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Also ; adverb

Angry ; adjective

Morphemes : The | farmer | is | also | angry |

r. Then Pak Razak and the farmer have an argument.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

Then

Pak Razak and the farmer have an argument

Then ; adverb

Pak Razak ; proper noun

And ; coordinating conjunction

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Have ; auxiliary verb

An ; indefinite article

Argument ; noun

Morphemes : Then | Pak | Razak | and | the | farmer | have | an | argument |

s. People come and ask to calm down.

Clause :
-

People come and ask

To calm down

Phrases :
Ask to calm down; verb phrase

Words :
-

People ; noun

Come ; verb

And ; coordinating conjunction

Ask ; verb

To ; preposition

Calm down ; phrasal verb

Morphemes : People | come | and | ask | to | calm | down |

t. They suggest Pak Razak and the farmer go to the King to solve the problem.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

They suggest Pak Razak and the farmer go to the King

To solve the problem

They ; personal pronoun

Suggest ; verb

Pak Razak ; proper noun

And ; coordinating conjunction

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Go ; verb

To ; preposition

The ; definite article

King ; proper noun

To solve ; non-finite verb

The ; definite article

Problem ; noun

Morphemes : They | suggest | Pak | Razak | and | the | farmer | go | to | the |

King | to | solve | the | problem |

u. Please tell me what happened, asks the King.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

Please tell me

What happened

asks the King

Please ; interpersonal adverb

Tell ; verb

Me ; personal pronoun

What ; adverb

Happened ; verb

Asks ; verb

The ; definite article

King ; proper noun

Morphemes : Please | tell | me | what | happen|ed | ask|s | the | King |

v. Pak Razak and the farmer tell the King about the problem.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

Pak Razak and the farmer tell the King

About the problem

Pak Razak ; proper noun

And ; coordinating conjunction

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Tell ; verb

The ; definite article

King ; proper noun

About ; adverb

The ; definite article

problem ; noun

Morphemes : Pak | Razak | and | the | farmer | tell | the | King | about | the |
problem |

w. I know the solution.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

I know the solution

I ; personal pronoun

Know ; verb

The ; definite article

Solution ; noun

Morphemes : I | know | the | solution |

x. Now put your coins into this bottle.

Clause :

Phrases :

Now

Put your coins into this bottle

Into this bottle ; prepositional phrase

Now ; adverb

Put ; verb

Your ; possessive pronoun

Coins ; noun

Into ; preposition

This demonstrative pronoun

Bottle ; noun

Words :

Morphemes : Now | put | your | coin|s | into | this | bottle |

y. Do you hear the sound of the coins? asks the King to Pak Razak.

Clause :
-

Do you hear the sound of the coin?

Asks the King to Pak Razak

The sound of the coins ; noun phrase

Do ; auxiliary verb

You ; personal pronoun

Hear ; verb

The ; definite article

Sound ; noun

Of ; preposition

The ; definite article

Coins ; noun

Asks ; verb

The ; definite article

King ; proper noun

To ; preposition

Pak Razak ; proper noun

Phrases :

Words :

Morphemes : Do | you | hear | the | sound | of | the | coin|s | Ask|s | the |

King | to | Pak | Razak |

z. Yes, I do, Pak Razak answers.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

Yes, I do

Pak razak answers

Yes ; interpersonal adverb

I ; personal pronoun

Do ; auxiliary verb

Pak Razak ; proper noun

Answers ; verb

Morphemes : Yes | I | do | Pak | Razak | answer|s |

aa. Then, the farmer has just paid you.

Clause :
-

Then,

the farmer has just paid you

Has just paid ; verbal phrase

Then ; adverb

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Has ; auxiliary verb

Just ; adverb

Paid ; verb

You ; personal pronoun

Phrases :

Words :

Morphemes : Then | the | farmer | has | just | pai|d | you |

bb. He pays your delicious aroma with the sound of his money, The King
explains.

Clause :

He pays your delicious aroma with the sound of his money

The king explains

Delicious aroma ; noun phrase

The sound of his money ; noun phrase

He ; personal pronoun

Pays ; verb

Your ; possessive pronoun

Delicious ; adjective

Aroma ; noun

With ; coordinating conjunction

The ; definite article

Sound ; noun

Of ; preposition

His ; possessive pronoun

Money ; noun

The definite article

King ; proper noun

Explains ; verb

Phrases :

Words :

Morphemes : He | pay|s | your | delicious | aroma | with | the | sound | of |

his | money | The | King | explain|s |

cc. Pak Razak is silent.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

Pak Razak is silent

Pak Razak ; proper noun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Silent ; adjective

Morphemes : Pak | Razak | is | silent |

dd. He knows the King is right.

Clause :

Phrases :

Words :

He knows the king

is right

He ; personal pronoun

Knows ; verb

The ; definite article

King ; proper noun

Is ; auxiliary verb

Right ; adjective

Morphemes : He | know|s | the | King | is | right |

ee. The King just gave him a lesson.

Clause :

Phrases :

Just gave him a lesson ; verb phrase

The ; definite article

King ; proper noun

Just ; adverb

Gave ; verb

Him ; personal pronoun

A ; indefinite article

Lesson ; noun

Words :

Morphemes : The | King | just | gave | him | a | lesson |

ff. Then, he apologizes to the farmer.

Clauses :

Phrases :

Words :

Then

He apologizes to the farmer.

Then ; adverb

He ; personal pronoun

Apologizes; verb

To ; preposition

The ; definite article

Farmer ; proper noun

Morphemes : Then | he | apologize|s | to | the | farmer |

E. Conclusion

A hierarchical analysis of sentences into their constituent parts gives us

a better understanding of the relationship among them. Functional grammar
relates grammatical categories to the communicative functions which they serve.
These functions are seen to operate at different levels of organization in the
language. This implies segmental principle of organization, in which larger units may
be seen as being formed from smaller units and smaller units being combined to form
the larger units.
Finally, the writer wants to admit that this study is still far from being done.
Further research need to be conducted for applying this grammatical unit in the scope
of English Grammar for advance level prior to EFL students. Hopefully, this study
has advantages to the reader or other researchers to understand the linguistic units
specifically using narrative text.

REFERENCES
Aronoff, K. and Fudeman, K. (2004). What is Morphology?1st Edition. New York.
Blackwell Publishing
Downing, A. and Locke, P. (2006). English Grammar: A University Course. USA:
Routledge.
Feng, Z. (2013). Functional Grammar and Its implications for English Teaching and
Learning. An English Language Teaching Journal, Vol.6, No.10, 2013.
Greenbaum, S. (1996). The Oxford: English Grammar. New York: Oxford University
Press.
Morley, G.D. (2000) Syntax in Functional Grammar: An Introduction to
Lexicogrammar in systemic linguistics. New York: Continuum.
P.C. Wren and H. Martin. (2003). High School English Grammar and Composition.
Revised Book by N.D.V.Prasada Rao. New Delhi: S. Chand and Company Ltd.