Pro-sentence

Encyclopedia : P : PR : PRO : Pro-sentence

A pro-sentence is a function word that substitutes a whole sentence whose content is recoverable from the context. Pro-sentences are a kind of pro-forms and are therefore anaphoric.

In English, yes, no, okay and amen are common pro-sentences.

Pro-sentences can be seen as interjections, since they are capable of very limited syntactical relations. But they can also be classified as a distinct part of speech, given that (other) interjections have a meaning of their own and are often described as expressions of feelings or emotions.

In some languages, the equivalents to yes and no may substitute not only a whole sentence, but also a part of it, either the subject and the verb, or the verb and a complement, and can also constitute a subordinate clause.

The Portuguese word sim (yes) gives a good example:

Q: Ela está em casa? A: Acredito que sim. — Q: Is she at home? A: I believe that she is (literally, that yes).

Ela não saiu de casa, mas o John sim. — She didn't leave home, but John did (literally, John yes).

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