Impersonal Sentence (Grade 8, Video Lesson Presentation)
Russian language video lesson for 8th grade.
Topic: Impersonal Sentence
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Impersonal sentences are single-member sentences in which the action has no agent. They do not and cannot have a subject. For example:
I'm hot.
I'd like to watch TV.
In these sentences, the action has no agent. They do not and cannot have a subject. These are impersonal sentences.
Impersonal sentences typically convey specific states, inevitability, or absence of something. The predicate in impersonal sentences can be expressed by: an impersonal verb, a personal verb with an impersonal meaning, a reflexive verb, the word "no," a state noun, an adverb, or an infinitive. Pronouns such as ME, ME ~, or adverbs such as SOMEWHERE and NOWHERE can be inserted into such sentences. For example:
It's getting light
This sentence conveys a state of the environment. The predicate is expressed by an impersonal verb. The pronoun "somewhere" can be inserted into the sentence.
It smells pleasantly of roses.
This sentence conveys a state of the environment. The predicate is expressed by the impersonal personal verb "smells." The pronoun "somewhere" can be inserted into the sentence.
I can't sleep.
This sentence conveys a person's state of mind. The predicate is expressed by the impersonal reflexive verb "sleeps."
There is no animal more powerful than a cat.
This sentence conveys the state of absence of something. The predicate is expressed by the word "no." The adverb "nowhere" can be inserted into the sentence.
The forest is quiet.
This sentence conveys a state of nature. The predicate is expressed by the state word "quiet."
It's sad.
This sentence conveys a person's state of mind. The predicate is expressed by the adverb "sadly." The pronoun "me" can be inserted into the sentence.
It will rain!
This sentence conveys a state of inevitability. The predicate is expressed by the infinitive "to be."
Impersonal one-member sentences form pairs of syntactic synonyms with two-member sentences, meaning they can convey similar meanings. However, impersonal sentences are richer in meaning than two-member sentences, as they express a state independent of the agent. For example:
There will be a thunderstorm.
There will be a thunderstorm.
These sentences convey similar meanings and are syntactic synonyms. The first sentence is two-member. The second sentence is impersonal one-member and conveys a state of inevitability.
Necessity, desirability, possibility, and impossibility are expressed by the verbs "should, shouldn't ~ worth, shouldn't," ~ state nouns "must, must, can, impossible, can't," and others with an adjoining infinitive. For example:
You should hurry with your decision!
In this non-union sentence, desirability is expressed by the verb "should" followed by the infinitive "hurry."
Advice can save.
In this non-union sentence, possibility is expressed by the state-of-being "can" followed by the infinitive "save."
Let's review.
Impersonal sentences are one-member sentences in which the action has no agent. They do not and cannot have a subject. Impersonal sentences typically convey specific states, inevitability, or absence of something. The predicate in impersonal sentences can be expressed by: an impersonal verb, a personal verb with an impersonal meaning, a reflexive verb, the word "no," a state-of-being, an adverb, or an infinitive. Such sentences can contain pronouns: ME, ME ~, or the adverbs SOMEWHERE, NOWHERE. Impersonal one-part sentences form pairs of syntactic synonyms with two-part sentences.