The Logical Structure Of Nominal And Verbal Groups

Matthiessen (1995: 92):

Simple groups and words are organised partly in the same way as complexes; they can partly be seen as word and morpheme complexes, respectively. Examples are given in Table 2-5.

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Less importantly, the Postmodifier of the nominal group (from the conservatory in Table 2-5) is no longer analysed as a β element. Halliday & Matthiessen (2004: 332n):

In previous editions the Postmodifier also was brought into the scope of the logical representation. But this appears to complicate the description without adding further to its explanatory power.

However, most importantly, the logical structure of the verbal group is not a word complex. Halliday & Matthiessen (2014: 398-9):

… the elements of the logical structure are not the individual words but certain rather more complex elements. … The logical structure of the verbal group realises the system of tense. … The primary tense is that functioning as Head, shown as α. This is the Deictic tense: past, present or future relative to the speech event. The modifying elements, at β and beyond, are secondary tenses; they express past, present or future relative to the time selected in the previous tense. Realisations are shown in Table 6-12.

Moreover, the verb serving as the Event (shoot in Table 2-5) has never featured in the logical structure of the verbal group. Halliday (1985: 184n):

A major point of difference between the verbal group and the nominal group is that the Event (unlike the Thing) is not the point of departure for the recursive modifying relationship. Hence it does not figure as an element in the notation.

Consequently, the verbal group don't shoot in Table 2-5, like all verbal groups with no secondary tense, has no logical structure, since it consists only of a single element. Halliday (1985: 177):