syntax & phrase structure Flashcards
(13 cards)
what is the head of a phrase?
the central word that determines the phrase type and grammatical features (e.g., “book” is the head of “the blue book”)
what is a constituent in syntax?
a word or group of words that function as a single unit within a sentence
what determines the type of phrase (e.g., NP, VP)?
the head of the phrase
give an example of a noun phrase with premodifiers
“green and blue lights”
give an example of a noun phrase with postmodifiers
“the painting destroyed by the intruder”
what is the function of a complement in a phrase?
a required element that completes the meaning of the head (e.g., “to York” in “she is going to York”)
what is an adjective phrase (AdjP)?
a phrase headed by an adjective, optionally with pre or post modifiers
give an example of an AdjP with both pre and post modifiers
“very happy about the outcome”
can adjective phrases be used inside verb phrases?
yes, e.g., “she was suprisingly nervous.”
what can AdjPs often be reduced to in coordination?
the word “so”, e.g., “my cousin is tall and so is her son”
what is a prepositional phrase (PP)?
a phrase headed by a preposition, followed by its NP complement (e.g., “on the shelf”)
give an example of a PP functioning as part of a noun phrase
“the door to the building is locked”
give an example of a PP acting as an
