Updated in version 3

Verbal group + clausal projection

Features	Example items	Where to put a tag
Verb phrases	runs, had seen, have been identified, have shown, etc.	on the entire verb phrase (except model verbs)
‖—Negation	is determined, was said	on the entire verb phrase (except model verbs)
‖—Passive construction	is determined, was said	on the entire verb phrase (except model verbs)
‖—Degree adverb + Verb	partially agree,	degree adverb + lexical verb
Mental or communication verbs	think, say, tell	on the entire verb phrase
It/there is X that/to construction	It is unlikely that ….	See the rule below
emphatic do	I do believe that …	do + lexical verb
Modal verbs	can, have to	on the item

From version 3, we do not include the conjunction that/whether that introduces projection clauses in the span.

Previously, we were including them:

• It’s probable/likely/possible that he’s lying.

From version 3, we exclude them:

• It’s probable/likely/possible that he’s lying.

This is primarily based on the fact that the meanings/function of engagement is expressed outside the projection clause, and sometimes intervening words (adverbs, clausal conjunctions) make it hard to include the projection without including too many other elements.

General principles on verbal groups

When an engagement meaning is realized by a verb phrase, you will put a tag on the entire verb phrase (including Auxiliary + negation + lexical verbs + particles). One exception to note is when a modal auxiliary is in the verb phrase. In such cases, we will treat the modal verb separately from the verb phrase.

• They have found it very difficult to understand each other ‘s lifestyles.
• Discussants correctly pointed out that Bernardino of Siena, Martin Le Franc, and the anonymous author of the Errores Gazariorum all have an even more aggressive campaign against witches than did the authors of our previous readings.
• Our analysis confirms previous work showing that incorporating various perspectives on an issue is a valuable feature of argumentative, analytical writing.
• The selectors (14) [ is most likely located ]ENTERTAIN-PRIMARY on a splined section of the output shaft.

Previously (in version 1), we have put a tag on “most lexically heavy verbs”.

Negation

When there are negative perticles (e.g., not, never) we will still consider it within the span.

• Even though he had taken all his medication, his leg did n’t look any better.
• The effect of Morphological Awareness did not achieve significance ( β = .193, p = .263).

Passive construction

When we put a tag on passive construction (e.g., MONOGLOSS, ATTRIBUTE), we include copula verb + lexical verb in the span.

• The data was collected in the local community.
• The allegations are believed to involve several teenagen aged from 12 to 18.
• At least some of the abuse is claimed to have taken place last year.
• It was expected that they would interview him later today.

Degree adverb + Lexical verb

When there is a degree adverb that directly modify the lexical verb that expresses ENGAGEMENT meaning, then we consider these two as a set of engagement move.

• I partially agree with the statement above.
• He completely opposed to the report.

Mental or Communication verbs

When an engagement meaning is realized by a mental or communication verbs, you will put a tag on the lexical verb. We do not include that that introduces the projection clause.

Communication/mental verbs (like pattern)

• I think that ~.
• I suppose that ~.
• I don’t believe that ~.
• We hear that

Communication/mental verbs (please pattern)

• It strikes me that ~.
• It occurred to me that ~.
• It surprizes me that ~.
• It puzzles me that ~.

I am/have X that/whether/how ~

• I am sure that
• I am not entirely sure whether
• I am of the opinion that
• I have no doubt that

It is X that/to — as Interpersonal metaphor

When there is It is X that ~, It is X to ~ or there is/are X that construction, we will tag the entire span of this construction. This decision is based on the fact that these construction function as introducing the stance of the writer as a whole (they almost function as chunks).

It/there is X that

When the that-clause govern the following clause, the tag spans are from It/There before that:

• It’s probable/likely/possible that he’s lying.
• It is possible that it is your duty to tell me.
• It seems likely that Mary knows.
• It is absolutely clear to me that what Charlotte was arguing was that Crouching Tiger was a bad film to which liberal audiences imputed a significance shaped by their own prejudices about Chinese cinema and the Chinese in general.
• There is no doubt that globalization has a deep effect on China.
• However, there is mounting evidence that processes of language acquisition, use, and change are not independent of one another but are facets of the same system.
• There can be no doubt, however, that the imperial Byzantine silks have a power and a dignity, a feeling for design and texture, seldom rivalled in the history of textiles.
• It is said that television keeps people at home.
• It is widely accepted that the processes that occur at the presentation of a single word are strongly dependent on the grammatical context that accumulated before the word, for example.
• That it is widely accepted does not change my opinion.
• It is essential that animals used in grazing regimes on heathland are kept away from reptile foci, particularly those of the rare Sand Lizard (English Nature, 1999).

It is X (for Y) to

When a to-infinitive govern the following clause, the tag spans are from It to the adjectival complement.

• It is possible for a layer of ice to form under the circumstances.
• But it is likely to have an impact in the near future.
• It was found, for example, that it is more likely to occur in NNS–NNS dyads rather than between NSs and NNSs (Varonis & Gass, 1985 ).
• It would be possible to suppose, for instance, that the tnre Schrodinger-like equation involves non-linearities.

In the following pattern, we can identify two strategies.

• It seems fairly obvious to most people that Watson tremendously oversimplified the learning process.

First, It seems fairly obvious gets a span, because this is a variant of It is X to. Second, seems should get another tag because they add ENTERTAIN value to the author’s assessment using fairly obvious.

• It seems fairly obvious to most people that Watson tremendously oversimplified the learning process.

X is/are in NOMINAL that

• FL teachers have been in general agreement that the target language should be used as much as possible in the FL classroom.

Modal verbs

When an engagement meaning is realized by a modal verbs (e.g., can, may, might, have to, etc.), you will put a tag on the modal.

• He may be lying.
• Teachers should show students the language needed to achieve these rhetorical features of argumentative writing.

List of modal verbs

Following Halliday & Mathiessen (2014, p. 145), the following items are considered as modal verbs (Modal operators) in this project:

• can, may, could, might, (dare), will, would, should, is to, was to, must, ought to, need to, have/has/had to
• needn’t, don’t need to, don’t have to, won’t, wouldn’t, shouldn’t, (isn’t/wasn’t), mustn’t, oughtn’t to, can’t, couldn’t, (mayn’t, mightn’t, haven’t to).

Emphatic do

A typical realization of PRONOUNCE is the use of emphatic do. In this case, we will put a tag on do + lexical verb:

• We do believe that researchers should view this disciplinary division as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.

This is a strategy to prevent any ENTERTAIN tagged on believe when there is already a PRONOUNCE in the sentence.