Heads & Dependents

Question 1

What is a phrase?

Answer 1

A group of word(s) which act together as a grammatical unit; can involve a single word

Question 2

Criteria for Determining the Head (6)

Answer 2

1. Crucial Semantic Info
2. Same distribution as the whole phrase (can replace phrase with head)
3. Normally obligatory
4. May select dependents of POS
5. May require agreement
6. May select case or adpositions

Question 3

Two types of branching

Answer 3

Right-branching/head-initial

left-branching/head-final

Question 4

In a VP, is the auxiliary or the main verb the head?

Answer 4

Auxiliary verb is the head

Question 5

Sort the pairs by head and dependent

adposition + NP
Verb + verbal argument
Possesser + possessed
Adjective + noun

Answer 5

HEAD DEPENDENT
adposition NP
* verb - arguments of verb
possessed possessor
noun adjective