wk 7 - syntax

Question 1

What’s the similarity & difference between an subject & a complement?

Answer 1

• both are arguments: expressions required for a sentence to be well-formed
• CANNOT hv too many or too few arguments than required

S: a ‘participant’ / subject of the sentence
C: non-subject argument

Question 2

Differences between arguments and adjuncts? (4)

Answer 2

ARGUMENTS!! (opp for adjuncts)
1. MUST be present in a sentence for it to be grammatically correct
2. Cannot have any more than required
3. Typically cannot be reordered
4. Typically occurs nearer to the verb

Question 3

What are the constituency tests?

Answer 3

1. Answer to qn
   - ask an acceptable qn where a string of words in the sentence can be an answer = the string of words are a constituent
   - Eg The sentence is: Kim bought that book with the blue cover
   Qn to ask: What did Kim buy?
   Ans: [The book with the blue cover] is a constituent

• Eg The sentence is: Kim bought that book with her first wages
  Qn to ask: What did Kim buy?
  Ans: [That book with her first wages] NOT a constituent. Weird phrasing.

2. Cleft
   - Put the words you want to test into (X):
   [It is/was (X) that/who (Y)]
   - If it goes into (X) & makes sense then it is a constituent

• Eg The sentence is: Kim bought that book with the blue cover
  -> It was (X: that book with the blue cover) that Kim bought = YES

3. Topicalisation
   - If a string of words can appear as the topic of a sentence = YES

• Eg The sentence is: Kim bought that book with the blue cover yesterday
  -> [That book with the blue cover], Kim bought yesterday = YES
  -> [That book], Kim bought with the blue cover yesterday = NO

4. Coordination
   - If a string of words can be put tgt with another string from the same lexical/phrasal category = YES
   - (X) and/or (Y)

• Eg: Kim bought [that book with the blue cover] and [that pen with the red cap] = YES

5. Replacement
   - A string of words can be replaced by a NP, VP, PP

Question 4

Whats a NP? (1)

Answer 4

• a phrase that cn be replaced by pronouns!
• YES eg: I saw [the cats] yesterday -> I saw [them] yesterday
• NO eg: I love my [cats] -> I love my [them]

Question 5

Whats a VP? (2)

Answer 5

1. gives rise to a sentence when combined with a NP on its left
2. can be replaced by slept or do/did so (too): meaning might change if you replace it with slept, but doesnt really change when you replace it with do/did so

Question 6

What are the different types of verbs, and prepositional phrase and its requirements?

Answer 6

1. Intransitive verbs (IV)
   - forms a VP on its own / can be replaced with slept or did/do so = V = VP
   - eg: Mary [VP (IV: sneezed)]
   - eg: sleep/sneeze
2. Transitive verbs (TV)
   - NEEDS a NP complement to form a VP
   - V + NP = VP
   - eg: Mary [VP: likes (NP: Bob)]
   - eg: like, kick hit
3. Ditransitive (DTV)
   - NEEDS 2 complements (non-subject arguments) to form a VP
   - V + NP + NP = VP
   - eg: Mary gave (DTV) Bob (NP) a coin (NP) = VP
   - eg: give, send
4. Sentential complement verbs (SV)
   - NEEDS a sentence complement (SC) to form a VP
   - thinks (SV) + Mary likes Bob (SC) = VP
   - eg: said, think
5. Prepositional phrases
   - PP = P + NP
6. Can modify a VP within a VP
   - Mary [VP: slept in her bed]
   - VP: slept + PP: in her bed
7. Can modify a N within an NP
   - I saw [NP: the cat (with the hat)]
   -> D: the + N: cat + PP: with the hat

Question 7

Whats do you need to take note of when doing the tests for constituency? (2)

Answer 7

• can give rise to inconsistent results
• SO use any many tests as possible to ensure that it IS a constituent!!
• for the exam: you will be given a list of sentences with the tests applied on them -> interpret the results of the tests

Question 8

What is structural & lexical ambiguity?

Answer 8

Structural A
- ambiguity bcs a word/phrase has more than 1 possible structure
- common source: PP can be attached to diff things:
VP -> VP PP
NP -> (D) (Adj) N (PP)
- use constituency tests to test for SA

Lexical:
- ambiguity caused by a word having more than 1 meaning
- Molly owns a black bat - flying animal/baseball bat?

CHECK IPAD GALLERY FOR EGS!!!!