Unit 8

SYNTAX

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CONTENTS

infiniteness

hierarchical structuring

constituent types

phrase types

phrasal units (head, specifier,

complements,modifiers)

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the component of the grammar [which

investigates] the system of rules and

categories that underlies sentence sentence

formationformation in human language

SyntaSyntaxx

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The version of syntactic analysis in this course

Transformational SyntaxTransformational Syntax

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Nature of SentencesNature of Sentences

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InfinitenesInfinitenesss

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InfinitenessInfiniteness in number in number

(unlimited number of sentences)

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InfinitenessInfiniteness in length in length

(indefinitely long sentences)

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whathappenednextguessIyou knowDo

at the match?

ed

No place like home

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Hierarchical Structure Hierarchical Structure

(increasingly larger units / several levels)

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The duck bit the burglar

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The

duck bit the burglarThe duck bit the burglarThe duck bit the burglar

The duck bit the burglar

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

5 constituents

3 constituents

2 constituents

1 constituent

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Types of ConstituentsTypes of Constituents

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Word-level Word-level ConstituentsConstituentssingle words

(the, duck, bit, the,

burglar)

the: determiner

duck, burglar: noun

bit: verb14

Phrase Level ConstituentsPhrase Level Constituents

larger units with an internal

structure

the duck (NP)

the burglar (NP)

bit the burglar (VP)

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Phrase TypesPhrase Types

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VP Verb Phrase

eat an appleeat welleat

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NP Noun Phrase

booksthe books many books the books on the table

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AP Adjective Phrase

nice very nicevery nice of you

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PP Prepositional Phrase on the deskto the doorover the wallin

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AdvP Adverb Phrase very slowlyslowly

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Phrasal Phrasal UnitsUnits

-Head

-Specifier

-Complement

-Modifier

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HeadHead

the most important word

the picture in the book (NP)

write a letter hastily (VP)

over the fence (PP)

very urgent (AP)

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the phrase is built around the head

NP head: a noun

VP head: a verb

AP head: an adjective

PP head: a preposition

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The head:

1. is a single word

2. is compulsory

(the only one: single word phrases)

Men (NP)

rude (AP)

3. There is only one head in a phrase.

4. A given word can be the head of one

phrase only .25

She is certain.

certain

A

AP

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He went in.

in

P

PP

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SpecifiersSpecifiers

(Det, Deg, Qual)

Semantically, specifiers help to make more precise the meaning of the head.

the books (a specific set of books)books (books in general)

Syntactically, specifiers typically mark a phrase boundary.

In English, specifiers occur at the left boundary (the beginning) of their respective phrases

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Specifier categoriesSpecifier categories

Determiner (Det)the, a, this, these(articles & demonstratives)

Degree word (Deg)too, so, very, most, quite, almost(traditionally adverbs / always before the head)

Qualifier (Qual)always, perhaps, often, never, (traditionally adverbs / always before the head)

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NDet

NP

booksthe

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VQual

VP

eatnever

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ADeg

AP

certainquite

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PDeg

PP

inalmost

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Typical specifier functions of syntactic categoriesTypical specifier functions of syntactic categories

Det: specifier of N the house, a pen, this book, those houses)

Qual: specifier of V never say, perhaps do, often go, always eat)

Deg: specifier of A and P very good, quite young, more interesting, almost in

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ComplemeComplementsnts

Complements :1.are themselves phrases / multiple complements

[put the book on the table] VP

2. Complements are attached to the right of the head in English.

3. Their existence is implied by the meaning of the head.

put: object (NP) / location (PP)

NP PP

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4. Strong syntactic framesput something somewherefond of….a story about…..

5. Omission of complements results in ungrammaticality.*put*put on the table*put the book

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hamburger a eat

never

Qual V Det N

NNPP

VP

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the about books

the

Det N P Det

PPPP

NP

war

N

NP

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house the in almost

Deg P Det N

NPNP

PP

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about certain

quite

Deg A P

PPPP

AP

Mary

N

NP

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Complement OptionsComplement Options

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1. (zero complement) (intransitive) The child vanished__

2. NP (transitive) The professor proved [NP the

theorem].

3. AP The man became [AP very angry].

4. PP The dog dashed [PP to the door].

VerbsVerbs

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5. NP NP (ditransitive)

We handed [NP the man] [NP a map].

6. NP PP She gave [NP a certificate] [PP to the

student].

7. PP PP I talked [PP to a doctor] [PP about Sue].

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NounsNouns

1. (zero complement) the car__

2. PP the memory [PP of a friend]

3. PP PP the presentation [PP of a medal] [PP to the winner]

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AdjectivesAdjectives

1. (zero complement) very tall__

2. PP curious [PP about China]

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PrepositionPrepositionss

1. (zero complement) He got down__

2. NP in [NP the house]

3. PP down [PP into the cellar]

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ModifierModifierss

Modifiers :1.are themselves phrases / multiple modifiers

[a very difficult question] NP

[sitting quietly for an hour] VP

(only APs, PPs, AdvPs can be modifiers.)

2. Modifiers can precede or follow the head in English.

before the head: pre-modifierafter the head: post-modifier

AP

AdvP PP

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3. They encode optionally expressible properties of heads / extra information / not implied by the head

sit does not imply manner (quietly) / duration (for an

hour)

4. Omission of modifiers does not result in ungrammaticality.sitsit quietlysit for an hour

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[A very tall man] walked into the room.

She made [exceptional progress].

Noun Modifiers Noun Modifiers (APs)(APs)

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Verb ModifiersVerb Modifiers

a) AdvPs

Helen [proceeded carefully]. (manner)

We [arrived early]. (time)

b) PPs

Helen [proceeded with care]. (manner)

He [stayed for three days]. (time)

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Modifier Position in EnglishModifier Position in English

AP precedes the head

PP follows the head

AdvP precedes oror follows the head

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crisis international

an

Det A N

NP

AP

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cautiously proceed

always

Qual V Adv

VP

AdvP

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Thank You!

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