Phraseological units are subdivided into the following four classes according to their function in communication determined by their structural-semantic characteristics.
1. Nominative phraseological units are represented by word-groups, including the ones with one meaningful word, and coordinative phrases of the type wear and tear, well and good.
The first class also includes word-groups with a predicative structure, such as as the crow flies, and, also, predicative phrases of the type see how the land lies, ships that pass in the night.
2. Nominative-communicative phraseological units include word-groups of the type to break the ice — the ice is broken, that is, verbal word-groups which are transformed into a sentence when the verb is used in the Passive Voice.
3. Phraseological units which are neither nominative nor communicative include interjectional word-groups.
4. Communicative phraseological units are represented by proverbs and sayings. [1,c.245]
These four classes are divided into sub-groups according to the type of structure of the phraseological unit. The sub-groups include further rubrics representing types of structural-semantic meanings according to the kind of relations between the constituents and to either full or partial transference of meaning.
Conclusion
The classification system includes a considerable number of subtypes and gradations and objectively reflects the wealth of types of phraseological units existing in the language. It is based on truly scientific and modern criteria and represents an earnest attempt to take into account all the relevant aspects of phraseological units and combine them within the borders of one classification system.
Originalsources
1. Антрушина Г. Б., Афанасьева О. В., Морозова Н. Н.А72 Лексикология английского языка: Учеб. пособие для студентов. — М.: Дрофа, 1999. — с. 245-247
2. Арнольд И. В. А 84 Лексикология современного английского языка: Учеб. для ин-тов и фак. иностр. яз. — 3-е изд., перераб. и доп. — М.: Высш. шк., 1986. — c.273-278
3. МOCКОВСКИЙ ПЕДАГОГИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ Курс лекций и планы семинарских занятий по лексикологии английского языка(для студентов третьего курса)Cocтавитель : Э. М. Дубенец, к.ф.н., доц.
4.Курс лекций по лексикологии. Преподаватель Беляева Е.П. ПГУ 3 курс
5. Широких В.М., Кудреватых Л.П. Теоретические материалы по лексикологии современного английского языка. - Глазов, 2004.