Transcript Topics in English Syntax

Topics in English Syntax
An Introductory Course
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
1
Topics in English Syntax
Bibliography
The following works have been used and quaoted
extensively without this use being clearly marked.
Verspoor, M. (2000), English Sentence Analysis: An Introductory Course. Amsterdam: Benjamins
Burton-Roberts, N. (19972), Analysing Sentences. An
Introduction to English Syntax. London etc.: Longman
Huddleston, R.; Pullum, G. K. (2002), The Cambridge
Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge: CUP
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
2
Topics in English Syntax
• Introduction to the practical analysis of
Present-day Standard English
• two especially favoured dialects „Standard Southern
British English“ and „American English“
• spoken or written by (educated) native speakers (
UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South
Africa, ...)
• language of the government, broadcasting, print
media, education, science, public discourse
• any topic,
• for informal and formal events
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
3
Topics in English Syntax
• E - language, the externalized language seen as a
potentially infinite set of sentences
• performance (errors, slips, other problems)
• corpus data (representativity as a problem)
• I - language, the internalized language seen as a
finite set of rules and principles in the mind of a
native speaker / hearer
• competence (Chomsky 1986, Barriers)
• idealization
• introspection (methodological problems)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
4
Topics in English Syntax
• Syntax: the branch of grammar dealing with the
organization of words into larger structures such as
phrases and sentences; the study of sentence
structure.
• Three basic assumptions:
– Sentences have parts which may themselves have parts.
– The parts of sentences belong to a limited range of types.
– The parts have specific functions within the larger parts
they belong to.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
5
Topics in English Syntax
– Sentence patterns & functions of communication
• give information about something to someone
– [John] subject [is leaving] whole verb
// declarative
• ask someone for information
– [Is] part of verb [John] subject [leaving] rest of verb
// interrogative
• make someone do something
– [Leave!] verb only
// imperative
• express one‘s feeling or attitude
– [What] What a shock! Rest of sentence
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
// exclamatory
6
Topics in English Syntax
In a declarative sentence speakers give information on
•
•
•
•
one or more participants
the event, state, process, activity
attributes of participants
the setting of the event or situation
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
13.04.2015
(subject, object)
(predicator)
(attribute)
(adverbial)
The little tiger is happy.
The boy turned five years old yesterday.
The boy considered the tiger dangerous.
A bird hit the car.
The boy gave the tiger some milk.
He was holding his balloon up high.
Pam bought him the book.
Lecture notes
7
Topics in English Syntax
Roles
Function
abbrev.
1st participant
process / event
2nd participant
3rd participant
subject
predicator
direct object
indirect object /
benefactive object
subject attribute
object attribute
adverbial
S
P
DO
IO
BO
SA
OA
A
attributes of 1st participant
attributes of 2nd participant
the setting
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
8
Topics in English Syntax
Basic / typical word order patterns of English sentences with
subject - predicate - other participants - attribute - setting
(predicator = verb;
predicate = predicator plus complements other than subject:
predication = predicate plus subject (external complement) )
(1) Intransitive verb pattern
Pam is jumping (high).
13.04.2015
- (1st participant , process)
- (subject, predicate, (adverbial))
- (predicator = intransitive verb cycle,
listen, talk, swim, ...)
Lecture notes
9
Topics in English Syntax
Basic / typical word order patterns of English sentences
(2) Copula verb pattern
Tiger is a nuisance.
- (1st participant, process / state)
- (subject, predicate, (subject attribute ))
- (predicator = copula verb:
be, appear, grow, seem, look, make,
smell, sound, become, prove, taste, feel,
remain, turn)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
10
Topics in English Syntax
Basic / typical word order patterns of English sentences
(3) The (mono-)transitive verb pattern
Pam read the book.
A bird hit the car.
- (1st participant, process / activity, 2nd participant)
- (subject - predicate - direct object)
- (predicator = mono-transitive verb: see, hold, kick, hear,
believe, think, read, print, ...)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
11
Topics in English Syntax
Basic / typical word order patterns of English sentences
(3) The ditransitive pattern
Mother bought Pam a lolly.
John gave Peter the present.
(1st participant, process / activity, 2nd participant, 3rd
participant)
(subject, predicate, direct obj, indirect / benefactive obj)
(predicator = ditransitive verb: give, buy, tell, send , pass,
...)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
12
Topics in English Syntax
Basic / typical word order patterns of English sentences
(5) The complex transitive pattern
They elected John the president
- (1st participant, process / activity, 2nd participant,
attribute of 2nd participant)
- (subject, predicate, direct object, object attribute)
- (Predicator = complex transitive verb: make, wipe,
drive, call, crown, name, consider, assume, regard,
certify, declare, deem, ...)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
13
Topics in English Syntax
• Note:
Many verbs can be used in several patterns
•
•
•
•
13.04.2015
He makes a good teacher.
He made a goal.
We made him a cake.
The troops made him emperor.
Lecture notes
(1)
(3)
(4)
(5)
14
Topics in English Syntax
• Note:
(1) the declarative sentence pattern can have different
communicative functions.
(2) words have different senses in different contexts
(3) „process, state, activity“ are loose or fuzzy labels for
events which are denoted by the predicates
(4) there exist terminlogical variants: e.g. subject
complement, object complement, used for subject / object
attribute
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
15
Topics in English Syntax
sentence
subject
predicate
predicator
13.04.2015
complement
adverbial*
no complement
subject attribute
direct object
dir obj + indirect or benef. obj
dir obj + obj attribute
Lecture notes
16
Topics in English Syntax
• Structure: constituents, categories, function
sentence
old Sam sunbathed
beside
a
stream
The divisible parts of a sentence are called constituents.
What does the diagram tell us about this sentence?
- linear order of words and well-formedness
* a sunbathed old beside Sam stream
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
17
Topics in English Syntax
- transition word x to word y / class of word x (e.g
Adj) to class of word y (N)?
A sentence has different kinds / categories of constituents
sentence
Adj N V Prep Art N
N V Prep Art N
How many sequences of English words / word classes
result in well-formed (grammatical) sentences ?
Testing:
- movement of constituents
- deletion of constituents
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
18
Topics in English Syntax
- substitutions of constituents
- adding constituents
He sunbathed beside the stream
Sam sunbathed.
Beside the stream, the old dog bathed in the sun.
The constituents are arranged in a specifiable manner
Structure def: some parts of an entity are constituents
of different kinds (categories) which occur in
specifiable arrangements and which have certain
specifiable functions
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
19
Topics in English Syntax
bicycle
frame crossbar wheel spoke handlebar pedal chain
bicycle
frame wheel
handlebar
crossbar spoke rim pedal chain
bell handbrake
• Diagram of structural relationships: immediate constituents
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
20
Topics in English Syntax
• Sentence and clause
Syntax is concerned with the way words combine to from sentences.
sentence = largest unit of syntax; (intuitively understood concept)
„a syntactically related group of words that expresses
an assertion, a question, a command, a wish or an
exclamation“
usually begins with a capital letter and ends with a
period, question or exclamation mark
word = smallest unit of syntax; (intuitively understood concept)
clause = basic syntactic construction consisting of a subject and a
predicate; occurs as main, co-ordinated or subordinated
clause
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
21
Topics in English Syntax
• Simple, compound and complex sentences
– a simple sentence consists of one main clause
Whales cannot breathe under water.
They have lungs instead of gills.
We will see several applications of this order of the primitives in
the course of the book.
The waitresses are basking in the sun like a herd of skinned seals,
their pinky-brown bodies shining with oil.
Is America streched too far?
Just give me a remote control for the planet.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
22
Topics in English Syntax
– a compound sentence consists of two or more
(independent) main clauses, connected by
• a coordinate or a correlative conjunction
– coordinate conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet
correlative conjuctions : both ... and, not only ... but also, either ... or,
neither ... nor
Whales cannot breathe under water, for they have lungs instead of gills.
• a conjunctive adverb and/or a semicolon
– conjunctive adverbs: moreover, so, therefore
Whales have lungs instead of gills; therefore they cannot breathe under
water.
...instead of gills; they therefore cannot breathe under water
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
23
Topics in English Syntax
– a complex sentence contains at least one full
dependent clause which functions as a constituent
and is introduced by a subordinating conjunction
– subordinating conjunctions: after, although, as, as if, as/even
though, because, before, how, however much, if, in order that,
now that, once, rather than, since, so that, that, though, unless,
until, what(ever), when(e), where(ever), whereas, whether,
which(ever), while, who(m)(ever), whose
• a dependent clause may function as adverbial
Whales cannot breathe under water because they have lungs instead of
gills
– a test for adverbials: move into different positions, e.g. sentenece
initial
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
24
Topics in English Syntax
• a dependent clause may function as a modifier of a
noun (relative clause)
Jane, who always drives fast, bought a Lotus.
Whales, which cannot breathe under water, have lungs
instead of gills.
• a dependent clause may function as a subject, object,
or subject complement clause; no complete main
clause remains
That Jane drives fast is common knowledge.
What is surprising is that whales cannot breathe under
water.
We all know that Jane drives fast.
A fact is that Jane drives fast
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
25
Topics in English Syntax
– a compound-complex sentence contains at least
two main clauses and one dependent clause
A tone is what you hear in music and a note is the symbol that you
write down for a tone.
– The notion of phrase
phrase def: a word or a group of words without a subject
and predicate but functioning as a unit in a sentence:
the old man / recently / in the corner / have mastered / beside the
pool
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
26
Topics in English Syntax: Verbs
• Subject, object, predicate and predicator“ name syntactic
functions which are realized by a certain type of word, or a
phrase, or a type of clause.
[ [The mother] subject
[ [gave]predicator
[the little boy] indirect object
[a balloon] direct object ]predicate]sentence
• The predicator is realized by a verb. The verb is the
syntactically most important element within the VP (VP = a
syntactic category). Verbs are the heads of the VP = they
determine what other kinds of element are required
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
27
Topics in English Syntax:Verbs
• Verbs are lexical verbs (write, swim, ride, tread) or
auxiliary which name events, processes, states, etc.
– i. (non modal) be, have, do
– ii. (modal) can, may, will, shall, must, ought, need, dare
– iii. dare, need, be, have, do (are also used as lexical verbs)
• verb forms are finite (tensed) or non-finite (non-tensed)
– most lexical verbs have six inflectional forms
finite: bake (plain present tense), bakes (3rd pers. sg present tense), baked (past
tense)
non-finite: bake (plain infinitive), baking (present participle/gerund), baked
(past participle)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
28
Topics in English Syntax
– auxiliary verbs
• differ from lexical verbs in their morphology (cf. be, am, was ...);
• modals have no non-finite forms (*to shall ; *musting; *the musted
sale); do not occur in an environment where non-tensed forms are
required
• do not enter into person - number agreement with the subject
• function in the complex verbal forms for tense, aspect, mood, modality
contrasts
• are distinguished syntactically from lexical verbs: they can be negated
by a following not and they invert with the subject in interrogatives
I have not seen him. *I saw not them.
Will you go with them? *Want you to go with them?
• Auxiliaries have negative forms
isn‘t. wasn‘t, can‘t, ...
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
29
Topics in English Syntax
• VP can be simple (gave) or complex, i.e. consist of aux
elements plus a lexical verb (will have given)
– progressive be + present participle to express progressive aspect
Max writes / wrote an interesting term paper
Max is writing an interesting term paper
Max was writing an interesting term paper
– perfect have + past participle to express perfect aspect
The men set out hours ago.
The men have already set out.
The men had set out hours before we arrived.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
30
Topics in English Syntax
– modals + (to) infinitives to express mood and modality (degrees of
possibility, factuality, necessity, capability, obligation)
They found something horrible
They must have found something horrible
They may find something horrible
They may leave now.
– passive be + past participle
They found something horrible.
Something horrible was found
? Something horrible got found.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
31
Topics in English Syntax
– do for questions, negation and emphasis whenever there is no aux
verb in the predicator
They walked with their heads down, as if they were ashamed?
Did they walk with their heads down, as if they were ashamed?
They did not walk with their heads down as if they were ashamed
They did walk with their heads down as if they were ashamed.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
32
Topics in English Syntax
• Verb phrase: relative ordering of auxiliaries in the predicator
– the main verb may be preceeded by up to 4 auxiliaries:
modal perfect progressive passive in that order.
– order is rigidly fixed; each position is optional
– each auxiliary determines the inflectional form of the following verb
Auxiliary
modal
perfect
progressive
passive
13.04.2015
Inflectional form of following verb
base form:
may take
-en form:
has eaten
-ing form:
is reading
-en form
be taken
Lecture notes
33
Topics in English Syntax
Modal
perfect
progressive
passive
is
is
is
has
has
has
has
been
been
been
may
may
may
may
may
may
may
have
have
have
been
may
have
been
13.04.2015
being
being
be
be
be
being
been
being
Lecture notes
lexical verb
takes
taken
taking
taken
taken
taken
taking
taken
take
taken
taking
taken
taken
taken
taking
taken
34
Topics in English Syntax
• Be, have, do as aux and lexical verbs
He is my friend.
He is writing a letter
This letter was written by Thomas Cook.
He was to write many more letters.
He has many friends
He has written many letters.
He has to leave now.
He does a lot of work
Does he write many letters?
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
lex
aux, progr.
aux, pass
aux mood
lex
aux, perf
aux, mood
lex
aux, interrog
35
Topics in English Syntax
• Sub-types of lexical verbs
The verb is the syntactically the most important element
within the VP and the clause. Verbs are the heads of the VP
because they determine what other kinds of element are
required or permitted as complements of the predicator.
He | always | jogs| before breakfast.
C
A
P
A
He | always | reads | the paper | before breakfast.
C
A
P
C
A
Adjuncts are free additions to the VP or clause, are loosely attached
Complements are central to the predicator, have sharply distinct
syntactic functions as subject or object, etc.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
36
Topics in English Syntax
• Internal and external complement
the first constituent structure boundary in canonical clauses is between
subject and predicate; subjects are complements external to the
predicate, the other complements are internal to the VP.
• Transitivity
all canonical sentences have a subject, but depending on the verb, they
may or may not contain an object
S - P clauses are called intransitive :
The Imam fainted.
S - P - O clauses are called transitive
The Imam loved aubergines.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
37
Topics in English Syntax
• Many verbs are dual-transitivity verbs
The door opened (intransitive)
She opened the door (transitive)
He reads / He is reading ( intransitive)
He is reading a novel (transitive)
• Intransitive verbs do not take objects or subject or object
complements / predicative complements: S - P
Mara dreams
Her heart beats.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
38
Topics in English Syntax
• copula verbs like be, seem are called complex intransitive
verbs which allow a pattern of
S - P- PC
Ed seems quite competent.
The soup tastes salty.
• transitive verbs are divided into mono-transitive and ditransitive verbs depending on the number of objects they
have and into complex transitive
just one direct object = monotransitive
(S - P - DO)
He is drinking whisky and milk.
The local council must observe the law
Troops quickly occupied the city.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
39
Topics in English Syntax
ditransitive verbs have two objects, an indirect and a direct Object
(S - P - IO - DO)
She told him the truth.
Max gave mother some painkiller.
She baked a cake for her ssister
He bought me a book
complex transitive verbs admit a direct object and predicative
complement / object attribute
(S - P - DO - OA)
She considered Ed a decent guy.
They elected George W. the president.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
40
Topics in English Syntax
• Note: the direct objects of the three types of transitive verbs may be
realised by different structures
– a phrase:
I know him.
I know the student.
I know the student who lives next door.
– a clause with a finite verb
» I know that he moved to Münster last year.
» I asked him whether he would join us.
– a clause with a non-finite verb: (to inf, bare inf, plain inf)
» I enjoy listening to cool jazz.
» I forced him to eat the tuna sandwich.
» She made him paint the fence.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
41
Topics in English Syntax
• Passive clauses
The positive, active, declarative clause is generally
considered the canonical clause. Other types of clauses are
made to fulfill certain functions:
– passive clauses are used to focus on the goal, the
recipient or experiencer rather than on the agent of an
action.
– passive clauses depend on transitive verbs (which have at least 2 roles /
participants )
Max bought an expensive painting.
An expensive painting was bought by Max.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
42
Topics in English Syntax
• monotransitive verbs and the passive construction
active clause
subject
object
active predicator
passive clause
by object
subject
be + past participle
• ditransitive verbs have two passive alternants : two objects
may become the subject of the passive construction
• Max gave Mary the book
• The book was given to Mary by Max
• Mary was given the book by Max
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
43
Topics in English Syntax
• complex-transitive verbs: one object, one passive alternant
We consider him a nuisance
He was considered a nuisance (by us).
Note: The object attribute becomes a subject attribute
• non-finite clauses and the passive
I know [ him to be a noisy guy ]DO.
He is known to be a noisy guy.
I certainly expect [ him to clean up his act soon ] DO.
He is certainly expected to clean up his act soon.
Note: the subject of the non-finite clause, an indirect
object, becomes the subject of the passive construction
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
44
Topics in English Syntax
• multi-word verbs
– phrasal verbs: verb + adverb
write up, run off, ring off
– prepositional verbs: verb + preposition
run into, agree to
– phrasal prepositional verbs: verb + adverb + preposition
keep away from
– idiomatic noun + preposition verbs
catch sight of, set fire to, lose count of
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
45
Topics in English Syntax
• Tests to distinguish a phrasal verb from a
prepositional verb
He looked into the problem.
He looked into it.
He looked up the word.
He looked it up.
Position of pronoun after a preposition but in front of an
adverb = phrasal verb.
If there is no direct object, the verb is a phrasal one.
He walked down.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
46
Topics in English Syntax
• Phrases
We analyse sentences as consisting of smaller units
(constituents) which are called phrases.
We assume that the words of a phrase “belong together
naturally“. We can test this notion by deletion or addition
some words of a phrase or by testing different
segmentations of a sentence.
# A good knowledge of English # is essential # for
engineers # and # other staff in charge of aircraft
maintenance.#
*A good # knowledge of # English
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
47
Topics in English Syntax
– Each phrase has a core element which, if deleted, will
produce an ill-formed „unnatural“ phrase.
– This core element is called the head element; it
names the whole the phrase, e.g.
verb phrase, noun phrase; prepositional phrase, etc.
and determines its category or type.
– We describe the linear order of elements in a sentence
either by the sequence of phrasal categories VP, NP, PP
or by the syntactic function these units realize in the
sentence.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
48
Topics in English Syntax
– Functions are subject, direct object, indirect object,
predicate, adverbial of S
– Phrases realize functions; „ : “ = „realized by“
Subj: NP Pred:VP
dir obj: NP
The white tiger # bit # the magnificent magician#.
– Words are the building blocks of phrases. To determine
the type or class of a word, we look for its form and for
the contexts in which it can occur.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
49
Topics in English Syntax
• Word classes / Parts of speech
Traditionally (cf. Latin grammar), we distinguish approx. 11
different classes of words. Attributes of words:
- form (inflectional properties),
- potential of occurrence in specific contexts, i.e. their
syntactic features and their distribution,
- lexical meaning.
- POS determined by semantic features
arbeiten, v = activity; Arbeit, n = activity
arrival, n = activity; arrive, v = activity
in, prep = ?
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
50
Topics in English Syntax
• distributional criteria („distribution“: the set of all
environments); homogeneity of approach,
- an objective procedure, intersubjective validity
- an operational procedure = substitution test for
determining POS; function of a word in a phrase
We walk to the office every day
We took a long walk
I put on my walking boots
You‘re a light weight.
Come on, light my fire.
Put the lights out, please, will you.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
51
Topics in English Syntax
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
noun:
verb:
adjective:
adverb:
preposition:
coordinator:
subordinator:
pronoun:
article:
numeral:
bird, freedom, uncle, walk, Henry, farmer, sand
walk, swim, cycle, ride, consider, think, perceive, write
blue, exhausted, painful, big, strong, powerful
hard, hardly, happily, very, however, up, merely
in, on, at, under, after, amongst, like, since
and, but, or, nor
that, because although, since
we, her, mine, his, who, someone, which
the, a, an
three, third
• interjection: oops, , wow
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
52
Topics in English Syntax
• Noun
– proper nouns: Henry Miller, Ford, the United States, Warwickshire,
Thames (referential function); common nouns: table, wood, soap, sand,
sea, furniture, freedom, pleasure, pain (descriptive / predicative function)
• concrete : tangible things: car, bike, water; abstract: nontangible entities: ?? processes: idea, dream, thought; ?? move,
walk, transportation
• count: bounded, separable entitites: book, house; non-count /
mass nouns: grass, sand, oil, furniture, cattle, love,
• noun form
– nouns typically inflect for number (singular - plural) and case (plain
vs genitive)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
53
Topics in English Syntax
Noun and Noun Phrase function
1. NPs are prototypically function as a complement in
clause structure ( subject, object, predicative complement)
The doctor arrived. We saw the doctor. Kim is a doctor
and as as complement in PP
They were talking to the Dean.
2. NPs also function as
specifying or classifying genitive („subject determiner“ in an NP)
adjunct in clause
modifier in PP, AdjP and AdvP
supplement (Apposition) and vocative (Anrede)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
54
• NP structure
– nouns function as heads of NPs, alone or accompanied by one or
more dependents, such as determinatives (articles etc.), pre- and
postmodifiers (AdjP, relative clauses)
all of the very expensive vases on the shelf that broke in the quake
Note: nouns do not take objects
– Kim dislikes tiger; * his dislike it
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
55
Topics in English Syntax
– test for „nounhood“:
• 1) occurrence with articles: the ____; a_____
• 2) substitute word with a pronoun: it, they
– test for countability
one plate, two plates, three plates
* one furniture, *two furnitures, *three furnitures
– note: the count non-count distinction applies to uses of a
noun
BP developed three new motor oils
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
56
Topics in English Syntax
• Verb
– verbs denote processes, actions, activities, states, accomplishments,
achievments
• Verb form
– lexical verb paradigm: base, -s (3rd sg), plain (present), -ing,
(gerund participle) -ed (past tense), -ed (past participle)
note: syncretism between want - want; wanted - wanted
– forms of the auxiliary be: be, am, are, is, are, was, were,
negated: aren‘t, isn‘t, wasn‘t, weren‘t
– form distinctions of modal verbs (defective paradigm) :
can (plain present), could (past)
negated: cannot, can‘t, couldn‘t
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
57
Topics in English Syntax
• Verb and VP function
– verbs function as predicator and determine the number and kind of
dependents (complements); predicator and complement, possibly
with other dependents of type adjunct (modifiers) form the VP
• VP and clause structure
– verbs function as head elements in the VP and in the structure of the
clause;
– valency (mono-, bi- trivalent) determines the number of external and
internal complements (subject, objects),
– transitivity determines the kind of obligatory complements
(intransitive, complex intransitive, monotransitive, complex
monotransitive, ditransitive)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
58
Topics in English Syntax
He died.
This depends on the price.
Ed became hungry.
He reads the paper.
He blamed me for the delay.
This made Ed angry.
She gave him some food.
(intrans., monovalent)
(intrans., bivalent)
(intrans. complex, bivalent)
(monotrans., bivalent)
(monotrans., trivalent)
(monotrans. cmplex, trivalent)
(ditransitive, trivalent)
– verbs determine the choice of prepositions
The cream consists of egg and milk
It all depends on her father.
He supplied them with food and drinks.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
59
Topics in English Syntax
– verbs determine the choice of subordinate clause construction
Whether /*That we go abroad depends on the cost.
I don‘t know whether / * that they will like it.
• Distinctive syntactic properties of auxiliary verbs
– 4 non-canonical constructions are found with aux verbs:
NICE: Negation, Inversion, Code, Emphasis
– He has seen it. vs He has not seen it.
– Has he seen it? (subject - aux inversion)
– He has seen it. And I have, too.
– They don‘t believe he has seen it but he has seen it.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
60
Topics in English Syntax
• Distinctive syntactic properties of modal verbs
– central modals take bare infinitival complements
They must read the text
They will work on that problem.
They should help us finish the job.
– present tense modals don‘t show agreement with the subject
He can buy anything he likes; he has got tons of money.
John may insist on being invited.
Note: The person-number inflection in lexical verbs is determined by
agreement with the subject: knows agrees with the student.
The student knows the professor.
The students know the professor.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
61
Topics in English Syntax
• Adjectives
Function of central members of the category
– Adjectives typically modify nouns: can be used in predicative,
attributive and postpositive function
• Max is / seems / appears sad.
• Max owns an expensive car.
• Here is someone clever.
Gradability
– The prototypical adjective is gradable, accepts degree modifiers and
has inflectional or analytic comparatives and superlatives
very many, too bright, much heat
pretty, prettier, prettiest; useful, more useful, most useful
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
62
Topics in English Syntax
• Dependents
– Adjectives characteristically take adverbs as modifiers
• remarkably tough; surprisingly sweet
• Adjective phrases as attributive and postpositive
modifiers, and predicative complements
• my new job; all other possibilities; good work
• this is new; they seem suitable; we found it easy
• something important; a man full of his own importance
1. APs function (mostly) as modifiers in the structure of the
NP as pre-head internal dependent, = part of a nominal,
located between he determiner and the head noun
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
63
Topics in English Syntax
• 2. as predicative complements APs are dependents in the
clause structure, licensed by particular verbs, such as be,
seem, find, become, make, appear, feel, look, sound
• 3. post-positive APs function as post-head internal modifier
in NP structure; occur commonly after compound
determinatives such as someone, anything, nobody
– Note: the majority of Adjs can occur in all three functions but a
sizeable number is restricted to either attributive or predicative
function
• mere, former, main vs. alone, asleep, glad
– a few Adjs are restricted to postpositive function
• gifts galore, president elect
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
64
Topics in English Syntax
– Note: predeterminer APs occur as external modifier in NP structure,
preceding the indefinite article a
• such a fool
• half a pint of bitter
• Adjectives as heads of complex phrasal categories
– Many adjectives license
•
•
•
•
13.04.2015
complements in post-head position and
modifiers in pre-head and post-head position
PPs, NPs and clauses in post-head position;
AdvPs in pre-head position
Lecture notes
65
Topics in English Syntax
– Complements of APs in post-head position
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
13.04.2015
fraught with danger;
mindful of the danger; afraid of dogs
concerned about the delay; angry about her behaviour
angry at the news; astonished at the allegations
distressed by these insinuations
clothed in linnen; covered in dust
insistent that the charge be dropped;
amazed what a fuss she made
happy to leave it to him
Lecture notes
66
Topics in English Syntax
Adverbs
– Many adverbs are morphologically derived from adjectives ( -ly);
but note: fast, hard, early, better, worse
• a rapid improvement
• a surprising depth
• progress was rapid
vs
vs
vs
it rapidly improved
surprisingly deep
we progressed rapidly
– Adv modify a verb, an adjective or another adverb; they cannot
function as predicative complement
• They almost died in the accident.
• Max almost always gets it right.
• She was extremely unhappy with the proposal.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
67
Topics in English Syntax
Prepositions
• relate entities; denote place, time, direction, duration,
manner, causality, ...
• they have a core function within the phrase which
they introduce - they are the head element of a PP and
introduce a dependent NP as prepositional
complement.
• they are mostly short, simple words of a closed class
of function words
• there are several types of complex prepositions:
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
68
Topics in English Syntax
about, above, across, after, against, along,
among, apart from, around, as at, because of,
behind, below, beneath, beside, between,
beyond, by, concerning, despite, down,
during, except, for from, in, in addition to, in
case of, in contrast to, inside, in spite of, into,
like, near, of, off, on, onto, out, out of,
outside, over past, regarding, since, through,
throughout, to, toward, under, underneath,
until, up, upon, with, with regard to, within,
without
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
69
Topics in English Syntax
• 1. ADV or PREP +PREP
along with, as for, away from, out of up to, etc.
• 2. VERB / ADJ / CONJUNCTION etc + PREP:
owing to, due to, because of, etc.
• 3. PREP + NOUN + PREP
by means of, in comparison with, in front of, etc.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
70
Topics in English Syntax
Prepositions precede the PP, postpositions occur in
• wh- questions:
Which town to you live in
• relative clause:
The old hag I was telling you about
• Wh-clause:
What I am convinced of is that terrorist acts will happen.
• Exclamations:
What a mess he’s got himself in.
• Passives :
She was sought after by all the leading impresarios
• Infinitive clauses:
He’s impossible to work with
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
71
Topics in English Syntax
• Syntactic functions of prepositions:
– complements of verbs, adjectives and nouns:
We depend on continued subsidies
I am sorry for his parents
– adjuncts:
The students were singing on the bus
– postmodifiers in NPs:
The people on the bus were singing loudly and out of tune
– disjuncts:
To our surprise, he survived the accident unharmed.
– conjunct:
On the other hand, he was supported by the whole family.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
72
Topics in English Syntax
Pronouns and their Subclasses
• personal, reflexive, possessive, reciprocal, relative,
interrogative, demonstrative, indefinite
• may be used in two functions:
– 1. independently, in (pro)nominal function, replacing a co-referential
noun or a noun phrase
– 2. dependently, almost like adjectives, in determiner function
His book cost over € 75.That flower on the window-sill ..
When she arrived in Münster, Tiger went straight to class
Hers cost more than € 100.
And indeed she is impressive
Our American friends really like Sauerkraut.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
73
Topics in English Syntax
Features of (major subclasses) of pronouns
– They do not admit determiners
* the each book; * the which girl ?
– They often have remnants of case marking
–
–
–
–
I, me, mine;
we, us, our,
they , them, their
who, whom, whose
– They often have person contrast
• 1st person : refers to speaker role
• 2nd person: refers to role of person(s) addressed
• 3rd person: refers to entity under discussion
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
74
Topics in English Syntax
– They often have gender contrast
he – him – himself – his
she – her – herself – hers
it – itself- ist
– They show number contrast; mostly by morphologically
unrelated forms
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
75
Topics in English Syntax
Personal pronouns
possessive pronouns
reflexive pronouns
subj case obj case determiner nominal
1st pers sing
I
me
my
mine
myself
plur
we
us
our
ours
ourselves
2ndpers sing
you you
your yours
yourself
plur
you you
yourselves
3rdpers sing masc he
him
his
his
himself
fem she her
her
hers
herself
non pers it
its
its
itself
plur
they them
their
theirs
themselves
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
76
Topics in English Syntax
Personal pronouns:
– replace / substitute for co-referential NPs in
neighbouring a) preceding b) in following clauses:
Johni told Mary to wait for himi.
Whenever hei took off his glasses, Johni was difficult to deal with.
– objective case forms are used as (direct or indirect)
objects or as complements of prepositions; in informal
usage also as subject complements
Tiger spotted them immediately.
Max gave them some chocolate.
It’s me. Is it you?
I saw her with them.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
77
Topics in English Syntax
Reflexive pronouns
– replace a co-referential NP within the same clause
John hurt himself badly.
– the indefinite pronoun one has its own reflexive oneself;
other indefinites use himself, themselves
No one must fool himself
Possessive pronouns
combine genitive functions, indicating ownership (my, her, your,
...), functioning attributively / syntactically as determiners,
with pronominal function in the second series: mine, yours, hers
..
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
78
Topics in English Syntax
Relative pronouns
– reflect neutral, personal or non-personal gender of referent, and
case (genitive, and objective)
personal:
who, whom, whose
non-personal:
which, whose
neutral:
that
– introduce dependent relative clauses in which they function as a
subordinating conjunction (subordinator) and as a constituent
(subject, direct object, indirect object, or prepositional object)
John knows the guy who / whom you met.
John is the guy who broke the record.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
79
Topics in English Syntax
John is the guy whose daughter was recently married.
John is the guy for whom I have immense respect
... the house in which I was born
... the games that politicians play
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
80
Topics in English Syntax
Interrogative pronouns
– are used in questions, both in determiner function;
dependently,
personal:
whose,
personal or non-personal: which, what
Whose book is it? Which picture do you like most?
What kind of weather do you expect?
On whom do you rely?
–
and pronominally, independently,
This cat here. Whose is it?
Which do you prefer? What did he want?
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
81
Topics in English Syntax
– The interrogative pronouns may be used as
subordinators introducing dependent questions;
however, word order is then the same as in a declarative
sentence
Whom did you meet?
I asked whom you saw.
•
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
82
Topics in English Syntax
Demonstrative pronouns
– substitute for a pointing gesture, establish near
and distant reference (from the point of the
speaker) and function as determiner as well as
pronominally
singular
plural
13.04.2015
near
this
these
Lecture notes
distant
that
those
83
Topics in English Syntax
Indefinite pronouns and universal pronouns
– the universal pronouns comprise each, every, all, the
every-compounds (everything, every body, every one
– most indefinite and universal pronouns can be used
dependently, functioning as determiners or
independently
Someone thought that all the apples were sweet.
Every man is expected to do their duty.
All (senators) agreed that a reform was needed.
each student: individual reference to two or more
every student: collective reference to three or more
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
84
Topics in English Syntax
– every one, each, each one have of-constructions
Every one of the students should have their own books
Each one /each student has his own book
– the indefinites comprise somebody, anybody, anything,
someone, something, nobody, no on; [several, much ,
both, enough can also be considered quantifiers, like
vague numerals; similarly a great many; a few, many a,
a lot of, a great deal of ]
once upon a time, someone told us a story about ...
several went into the kitchen
– either, neither have dual reference, none is the negation
of every among the universal pronouns
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
85
Topics in English Syntax
Numerals
– There are two series of numerals, cardinal numerals
(one, two, three...) and ordinal numbers (first, second,
third ),
– they can be used dependently (as premodifiers) and
independently / pronominally
The first student to arrive was ...
He is the first.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
86
Topics in English Syntax
Reciprocal pronouns
– are each other and one another
They met each other regularly.
Wolf and Tiger are fond of one another.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
87
Topics in English Syntax
Articles
• English has two articles, the, a, an.
• The articles are always used as determiners
preceding the noun.
• The is used for specific, definite reference, a / an for
indefinite reference.
• The can occur before any common noun
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
88
Topics in English Syntax
• Connectors
– coordinating conjunctions
• link parallel structures, i.e. units of „equal syntactic
value”
Tom and Otto
both the boy with the telescope and the girl with the apple
He studies for his exam for he is eager to succeed.
He is reading a book. So he must not be disturbed.
• Conjunctive adverb
He is reading a book; therefore, he must not be disturbed.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
89
Topics in English Syntax
• Subordinators
– subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent
phrases or clauses
• are subclassified according to
– the type of dependent clauses they introduce
subject, and subject complement clause
object, and object complement clause
clauses modifying nouns
wh-clause; that clause; if-clause
– according to their function in the phrase or clause
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
90
Topics in English Syntax
I know where he lives. (DO)
I know how he works. (DO)
where and how are constituents of the clause and function
as interrogative adverbs with a subordinating function
If, whether and that are no clause constituents and function
solely as subordinating conjunctions
I don‘t know if he will come by himself.
We believe that he arrived on time (DO)
We asked whether he would be home.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
91
Topics in English Syntax
• In relative clauses that post-modify a noun, the relative
pronouns who, whose, whom, that, which function as
subordinators
The boy [that/whom you met is my pal. ]
Remember [the time when we were young.]
Subject
DO
the relative pronouns and the subordinating relative adverbs
when, where, also function as constituents in clauses
In adverbial clauses introduced by words like when, where,
after, since, before, ... these adverbs do not function as
constituents of the clause and are called subordinating
conjunctions.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
92
Topics in English Syntax
• Conjunctions
• coordinating conjunction
and, but, or, nor, for, so, yet
• correlative conjunctions
not only .. but also, either ... or, both ... and, neither ...
nor
• conjunctive adverbs
moreover, however, otherwise, certainly, finally, similarly,
nevertheless, indeed, consequently,accordingly, likewise,
now, therefore, thereafter, hence, meanwhile, still,
undoubtedly, next, hence, instead, certainly, besides
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
93
Topics in English Syntax
• Subordinators
after, although, as , as if, as though, because, before, even
though, how, however much, if, in order that, now that,
once, until, unless, though, that, so that, since, rather
than, what(ever), when, whenever, where, whereas,
wherever, wheher, whichever, while, who, who(m)(ever),
whose
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
94
Topics in English Syntax
Interjections
OOPS
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
95
Topics in English Syntax
• Parts of Speech:
major word classes:
V, N (and pronouns), Adj, Adv, Prep
minor word classes:
subordinators, coordinators, determinative,
numeral,
major parts-of-speech are marked for the HEAD feature
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
96
Topics in English Syntax
Levels of description
clause
phrase syntax
word ] morphology
grammar
clause: has subject and predicate
phrase : has head element and dependents
word : HEAD feature + or -; only major parts of speech
function as head elements (= N, V, Adj, Adv,
Prep)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
97
Topics in English Syntax
Phrases
consists at least of one word but may contain other phrases
phrases have constituents
constituents have functions
constituents have realizations
functions and realizations do not have a 1:1 relation
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
98
Noun Phrase
-
the most complex type of phrase
Topics
in =
English
obligatory: head
element
noun / Syntax
nominal / pronoun
plus one or two dependents
-
13.04.2015
prehead and post-head dependents
Lecture notes
99
Topics in English Syntax
Noun Phrase functions
– NPs prototypically function as a complement in clause
structure (subject, object, predicative complement
– and as phrasal complement in PP
– NPs also function
• as specifying or classifying genitive
• adjunct in clause
• modifier in NP, PP, AdjP and AdvP
• supplement (Apposition) and vocative (Anrede)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
100
Topics in English Syntax
NP functions: example sentences
The doctor arrived.
We saw the doctor.
Kim is a experienced doctor.
They were talking to the Dean.
I liked Sue‘s analysis of the passive construction.
Fred departed the day before yesterday.
The nail was three inches long
Fred arrived a whole day late
The wreck was found a mile under the sea.
I like the novel „Ulysses“.
I finally met his wife, a distinguished linguist.
Michael, I found your book.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
101
Topics in English Syntax
Functions of constituents of an NP
• predeterminer, determiner, postdeterminers, premodifier,
head, postmodifier
• examples of NP constituent functions and their realizations
John
he
the boy
exciting city life
half of the group of experts
the glass
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
102
Topics in English Syntax
the teacher’s glass
both of the very well known glitterati who intoned Britannia,
Britannia rule the waves
our old apple tree in the back yard
her skin beautifully tattooed with red dragons
England proper
the engine alone
a house as big as I have everseen
the night-life in Berlin
some wonderfully warm woollen blankets
photographs of Maja which her father had taken
a half of bitter
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
103
Topics in English Syntax
Realisations of constituent functions
- premodifiers of NP heads are mostly AdjP; N may be
premodified by one or several AdjP
- nouns which premodify nouns can be considered
adjectives
city [premod: AdjP] life [head:N]
- postmodifiers of Np heads are phrases or finite or nonfinite clauses, only some AdjP realise postmodifiers
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
104
Topics in English Syntax
Determiners
definite and indefinite article, demonstrative pronouns
preceding the noun: the, a , an, this, that, these, those
Predeterminers
both of, both those (copies), half of, all the, such a
Postdeterminers
those two, a half of
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
105
Topics in English Syntax
Specifying versus classifying genitives
a specifying genitive : an NP which has a genitive as the
head of a determiner as in
the child’s book
a specifying genitive can be substituted with a possessive
pronoun (his, her, its, theirs)
in a classifying genitive as in
a children’s book
the article functions as determiner of the head noun
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
106
Topics in English Syntax
Postmodifiers
restrictive (specifying) vs non-restrictive post-modifiers
post-modifiers may be added to an NP to help the addressee
identify the referent of the head noun , to specify vague
reference as in
My friend who has recently moved to London called
me last night. (intonation rising, no comma)
or to give additional information of an already identified
referent
Uncle Peter, who has recently moved to London, called
me last night. (intonation falling; set off with commas)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
107
Topics in English Syntax
Relative pronouns and postmodification
who, whom, whose, which, that
serve a double function as
1. subordinators introducing a dependent clause,
2. as clause constituent realising the function of a subject,
an object or an adverbial of the clause
whose is a dependent pronoun and phrase constituent
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
108
Topics in English Syntax
Verb Phrase
A VP consists of a
- a lexical verb as head element
- or of a comlex verb which contains auxiliary
elements and a lexical verb as its head
- and of the dependent complements.
In a verbal complex, the auxiliaries carry tense, aspect, and
mood information.
The verbal head licenses complements, i.e. it determines
the argument structure of the clause.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
109
Topics in English Syntax
Adjective Phrase
an AdjP consists of an adjectival head which in many cases
has a dependent (syntactically obligatory) complement in
postposition realised by a PP or a clause
She is afraid of dogs (optional).
She is afraid
Peter was very keen to take part (optional) Peter was very keen.
We are happy to leave it to you (optional) We are happy.
He is mindful of the danger (obligatory)
*He is mindful
The airlift was fraught with risks. (obligatory)
*The airliftwas fraught
They were fraught (= anxious, distressed)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
110
Topics in English Syntax
Note
a large number of adjectives that require an obligatory
complement when used predicatively or in postposition
cannot be used attributively.
This is tantamount to a confession.
*their tantamount confession
They were heedless of the danger.
this heedless destruction od the rain forest
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
111
Topics in English Syntax
PP complements of adjectives
13.04.2015
annoyed, concerned, mad, glad, happy
astonished, adept, hopeless, delighted
amused, distressed, hurt, unaffected
anxious, answerable, greedy
divorced, alienated, removed
about
at
by
for
from
bathed, clothed, engaged, decisive
desirous, reminiscent, scared
in
of
Lecture notes
112
Topics in English Syntax
Clausal complements of adjectives
I am glad that you were able to come
I am not sure whether you will understand
too good to participate in the games
Functions of the constituents of AdjPs
an Adj may be preceded or followed by a modifier;
- premodifiers are mostly realised by AdvP
- postmodifiers are realised by adverb phrases, NPs,
and mostly prepositional phrases or clauses
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
113
Topics in English Syntax
Note:
his [occasionally [very offensive ]] behaviour = stacked modification
his [[quite unbelievably] offensive] behaviour = submodification
AdjP
Mod:
Adv
Head
AdjP
Mod
Adv
occasionally
13.04.2015
AdjP
very
Mod
AdvP
Head
Adj
offensive
Mod
Adv
quite
Lecture notes
Head
Adj
Head
Adv
unbelievably
offensive
114
Topics in English Syntax
Determinatives as degree modifiers
the, this, that, no, any, much, little, a little, enough, all
The bigger it is the more likely it is to break
They are this tall
He seemes all confused
We‘re not getting any younger
NPs as modifiers
three years old
five centimeters thick
lots better
a trifle shy
two hours long
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
115
Topics in English Syntax
PPs as modifiers
cautious to excess
dangerous in the extreme
deaf in both ears
very good for a beginner
these in some respects highly controversial theories
an on the whole persuasive argument
Discontinuous modifier
so very good that he became a member of the team
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
116
Topics in English Syntax
Adverbialphrases
-
-
13.04.2015
Advs characteristically modify verbs, adjectives and
other Advs
AdvPs have Adv as head element and may contain
dependent modifiers and / or complements
Lecture notes
117
Complements in AdvPs
-
complements are almost always PPs
Our company operates [almost entirely separately from the rest of
the enterprise]
We decide independently of an abstract principle of justice.
Luckily for them, President Clinton decided not to run again.
... concomitantly with the process of ageing
... analogously to the calculation above
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
118
Topics in English Syntax
Modification in AdvPs
Stacked modification and submodification in the AdvP are
similar to modification in the AdjP
Jill loses her temper [only [very rarely]]
Jack and Jill sing [[quite remarkably] well]
Premodifiers
very easily, fairly evenly, incredibly meticulously, all that well
later that morning, a bit slowly, arrive three hours late
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
119
Topics in English Syntax
Postmodifiers
easily enough / clearly enough,
old enough to know better
he behaved badly in the extreme,
later in the day,
faster than anyone could imagine
Discontinuous modifier
He won the race [so easily that he became a member of the
national team]
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
120
Topics in English Syntax
Prepositional Phrases
- headed by prepositions, taking complements and
modifiers as dependents which are realised as NPs,
finite and non-finite clauses, AdvPs, AdjPs, other PPs
- all PPs functioning as non-predicative adjuncts, many
as complements in clause structure
Ahead of the ship, there was a small island. (PP)
but note: Tired of the journey, the sailor saw a small island. (AdjP)
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
121
Topics in English Syntax
NP-complements of prepositions
note:
13.04.2015
He lived in London for two years.
She sent a photograph of their new house to her parents.
Our new friends are keen on golf.
Concerning the news that you told me ...
just inside the penalty area
He left after the accident.
I haven‘t seen her since last Easter.
I haven‘t seen her since. (Prep without a complement?)
Lecture notes
122
Topics in English Syntax
Clausal complements of Prepositions
He left after he saw her.
He left after you promised to help.
It all depends on whether he saw her.
I am looking forward to seeing you.
afraid of what will happen.
We can‘t agree on whether we should call the police.
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
123
Prepositions plus non-NP constituents as complements
The magician emerged from behind the curtain.
(PP)
I didn‘t know about the accident until recently.
(AdvP)
cf. He stayed with us until last week.
She took him for dead.
(AdjP)
(predicative complement)
She took him for a friend.
(NP)
Modifiers of prepositions
two years after their divorce
just inside the building
very much in control of thngs
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
124
Topics in English Syntax
Position of the preposition relative to its complement
- in most cases, the preposition precedes ist complement
some English prepositions can follow their
complement
notwithstanding the weather vs. the weather notwithstanding
Stranded preposition
What are you looking at?
What are you waiting for?
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
125
Topics in English Syntax
S : NP SA : NP
[He was [a Hindu, a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes]]
SA : NP
post-modifying : NP
[a Hindu
[a puny wisp of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes]]
post-mod : NP
post-mod : PP
[a puny wisp
[of a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes]]
post-mod : PP complement : NP
[of
[a man, with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes]]
complement : NP post-mod: PP
[a man
[with a shaven head and vague liquid eyes]]
post-mod: PP
complement : NP
[with
[a shaven head and vague liquid eyes]]
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
126
Topics in English Syntax
Noun Phrase
Pre-det Determiner Post-det Pre-mod(s)
article
AdjP
pronoun
class. genit
numeral
spec. Genitive
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
Head
noun
pronoun
Post-mod(s)
AdvP
AdjP
PP
NP
fin. clause
non-fin clause
127
Topics in English Syntax
Adjective Phrase
Function: Pre-modifier
realised by AdvP
13.04.2015
Head
Adjective
Lecture notes
Post-modifier
PP
clause
128
Topics in English Syntax
Adverbialphrase
Functions:
Realisations:
Pre-modifier
AdvP(s)
Head
Adverb
discontinuous [Adverb]
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
Postmodifier
AdvP
PP
finite clause
non-finite clause
modifier
129
Topics in English Syntax
Prepositional Phrase
Functions:
Modifier
Head
Realisation
AdvP
Preposition NP
finite clause
non-finite clause
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
Complement
130
Topics in English Syntax
Verb Phrase
Functions: AUX
Head
complements /adjuncts
Realisation: tense
lexical verb
NP
mood
PP
perfect aspect
AdjP
prog. Aspect
finite clause
passive voice
non-finite clause
do
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
131
Topics in English Syntax
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
132
Topics in English Syntax
13.04.2015
Lecture notes
133