Sense groups

 In language the meaning of a sentence may not depend on a single word. Meaning is often dependent on a group of words used together. Such groups of words which contribute to the meaning of a sentence are known as sense groups. Sense groups are so important that at times how we group the words in a sentence determines the meaning of the sentence. 

 

For example: “Woman without her man / is a big zero”, is different from, “Woman / without her / man is a big zero”. In the first sentence a woman is zero without her man whereas in the second sentence, a man is zero without his woman. Thus where we pause within a sentence often determine its meaning. Speakers are expected to pause at the end of a sense group to make the meaning clear. 

 

Model questions:

mark the sense groups in the following passage:

1 - Jessy said that Hari was stopped abruptly on the way to college and abducted by a gang of youngsters in black masks.

 

2 - The government of India said the Zambian president has grossly neglected the incidence of AIDS.