Groups in SFG: What you need to Know 

Groups in Systemic Functional Grammar are the equivalent of phrases in traditional grammar and Transformation Generative Grammar (TGG). The logic behind groups in SFG  will be explained to you in the foregoing sections of this blog post.

Group refer to a word or group of words that function as a whole. It refers to a word or a group of words working together to achieve a common purpose. A group is made up of at least a headword, or a headword and modifiers, or a headword, modifiers and qualifiers. Headwords are the points of convergence in a group. What this means is that they are the most important element of a group around which the other elements revolve such that without a headword, there is no group. Take for instance;

a. An expensive gift

Compare with:

b. An expensive

You would notice that the structure in (b.) appears to be lacking in meaning—looking like an uncompleted statement. This is because the headword of the group was elipted hence rendering the expression meaningless. The headword that was removed, "gift", is a noun and because it is a noun and the headword of the expression, it automatically makes the group a nominal group.

Groups are named after the headword and this is because the other elements of a group can be elipted without rendering the group meaningless e.g., 

c. An expensive gift = Gift

We still get the idea of what is being insinuated. But check this other expression;

d. Expensive an or, An expensive

None of the expressions make sense without the headword which is why every group is named after its headword, so if the headword of a group is a noun then it is a nominal group, if the headword is a verb then it is a verbal group and vice versa. 

Modifiers are words that appear before the headword in a group while qualifiers are words that appear after the headwords in a group. Take for example;

a. The book on the table

We can already tell that "book" is the headword because it is the main point of convergence—every other element just adds more information to it and it can stand on its own and still express meaning. Since we have identified the headword of the group, every other element is either a modifier or qualifier depending on where they appear. So "the" is the modifier element, while "on the table" forms the qualifier element of the nominal group. 

The formula for the structure of groups is: (M)H(Q) and it has a number of possible formations like;

1. H

2. MH

3. MHQ

4. HQ

5. MMHQ

6. MMMH

Now there are five types of groups in SFG namely;

1. Nominal groups

2. Verbal groups

3. Adjectival groups

4. Adverbial groups

5. Prepositional groups

Each of these groups has functions it performs in clauses which will be elucidated as we proceed.

Nominal groups 

Nominal groups are groups that have nouns or nominal elements as its headword. What this implies is that the headword of a nominal group, after which it is named, could be a noun or any grammatical element that functions as a noun like a gerund, a participal, a pronoun, etc. Examples of nominal groups include;

1. The good boy

2. Singing on the roof

3. I myself 

4. Broken by the news of her death

5. The man who owns a mansion 

Note: The qualifier element of a nominal group is usually a prepositional group. 

A nominal group usually functions as the subject of a clause. A separate article will be published soon on nominal groups to explain further.

Verbal groups 

Verbal groups are groups that are headed by verbs. That is, they are groups whose headwords are verbs, particularly action verbs. Examples of verbal groups include the following;

1. Was

2. Will have been sleeping

3. Get up 

4. Could have found out

5. Can play

Auxiliary verbs including primary and modal auxiliary verbs usually form the modifier elements of a verbal group while particles like "to" form the qualifier element coming after the headword—an action verb.

Verbal groups usually function as the predicator element of a clause.

Adjectival group 

Adjectival groups are groups that are headed by adjectives. These are groups that have adjectives as headwords and they perform the same functions as adjectives in clauses. For example;

1. Beautiful

2. Fast enough

3. Extremely funny

4. Smarter than you think he is

5. Much faster than before

Adjectival groups function as complement elements in a clause structure.

Adverbial group

Adverbial groups are groups that are headed by adverbs. These groups are groups that have adverbs as their headwords and they perform the same functions as adverbs in sentences by modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Examples of Adverbial groups include;

1. Quickly

2. Very smartly

3. Smoothly enough

4. Quite slowly

5. Slightly

Adverbial groups usually function as adjunct elements of a clause structure.

Prepositional group

Prepositional groups are groups that are headed by prepositions. These groups have their headwords as prepositions, and like prepositions, they can also function as adjectives and adverbs. Examples of prepositional groups include;

1. On the floor

2. In the middle

3. Before the storm

4. Down the road

5. Ahead of time

Prepositional groups, like adverbial groups, also function as adjunct elements of a clause structure.

Related posts:

• Grammatical Rank Scale Explained 
• Phrases 
• Adjectival groups in SFG