ABSTRACT
Relatively independent basic structural element of a sentence; the exact number and function of constituents depends on the particular language. The determination and classification of constituents depends on the theoretical assumptions of the syntactic approach employed. An operational definition can be given as follows. (a) Constituents can appear before the finite verb in declarative sentences ( topicalization). (b) They can be moved around in the sentence (as a unit, if they are complex). Thus the substitution test shows that attributes are not constituents since they cannot be moved from their antecedent. (c) Constituents can be replaced by single words or pronouns through substitution. This operational definition does not coincide with the traditional definition of constituents, where syntactic and functional aspects are also considered, cf. the traditional definitions of subject, object, predicate, and adverbial. For a different definition of constituent, valence. Constituents include single words (today, works, she), phrases (in the morning, the new book, without a doubt), and constituent clauses.
