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EXERCISES

HUFLIT, 2014

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SYNTAX 2014 2 credits => 15 weeks X 2 periods (50 minutes)

week unit topics required textbooks reference books

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1 Introduction * Constituent structures * Terminology: constituents, immediate constituents, mother, sister, daughter, node, domination

S/intro [chapters 1& 2]

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2 Noun phrases Structure, head, pre-modifiers, post-modifiers Functions Tree diagram

FST [pp 48 - 59] LGC [chapter 7.5] AnaEng

S/intro [chapters 5, 6, 8] * Tree diagrams: based on S/intro [ch.8] LGC [pp. 303 - 308] TranS [p. 76; (7)]

5 3 Adjective phrases Structure, head, pre-modifiers, post-modifier (Adjectival complement) Functions Tree diagram

LGC [chapter 7.3] AnaEng

6 4 Adverb phrases Structure, head, pre-modifiers Functions Tree diagram

FST [pp 42 - 48] LGC [chapter 7.4] AnaEng

7 5 Prepositional phrases Structure, prep. & object/complement of prep. Functions Tree diagram

LGC [chapter 7.2] AnaEng

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6 Verbs & Verb phrases Structure, finite VP, non-finite VP Lexical verb, Auxiliaries (primary / modal), relative order among auxiliaries Tree diagram Mid-term Test

LGC [chapter 7.6]

N.B. VP predicate AnaEng

10 11 12

7 Clauses - Structures & types Functions of phrases in a clause (Clause elements): S, V, O, A, C Verb patterns: SV, SVC, SVO, SVA, SVOC, SVOO, SVOA Tree diagram

AnaEng LGC [chapter 8.5]

13 14 15

8 Dependent clauses Main clause, dependent clause Types: * Nominal: kinds (finite, non-finite), functions * Relative: kinds (adjective, relative adverbial), functions * Adverbial: kinds, functions Tree diagram

AnaEng LGC [chapter 10] ES [chapters 6 & 7]

REFERENCE BOOKS Analyzing English (Jackson) AnaEng Foundation of Syntactic Theory (Stockwell) FST Transformational Syntax (Radford) TranS Syntax: A Linguistic Introduction to Sentence Structure (Keith Brown) S/intro Language, Grammar, Communication (Delahunty) LGC English Syntax (Roderick A. Jacobs) ES

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1. FUNCTIONS OF NPs

Noun phrases can function as:

Subject

Direct object

Indirect object

Object of preposition

Adjunct

Subject complement

Object complement

Modifier in the NP (GenNP; NP; AppNP)

Underline the Noun phrases in these sentences and state their functions:

1. I want a gray kitten with stripes.

2. John was leading the poor old horse while Ann and Carol was walking behind the carriage.

3. The beavers in the pond built a dam.

4. The farmers believe beavers build dams with pleasure.

5. Max bought Alisons four-year-old daughter some great toys.

6. I dont like hot chili and curry.

7. Our new television set is more expensive than the one we had before.

8. The fat football coachs strategy was unsuccessful.

9. Lack of money fuels divorce.

10. Max is the student that I told you about.

11. Max is the student of literature that I told you about.

12. John found the new secretary in his office a very efficient person.

13. The teacher with wild purple glasses has a great sense of humour.

14. That beautiful model weighed ninety kilos a few years ago.

15. I hate doing the same thing every day.

16. Teachers often label hyperactive students troublemakers.

17. They had another day outside.

18. The windows and two of the wheels were broken last week.

19. What a sad sight it made!

20. The new houses owned by a billionaire are around the corner.

21. Some friends of ours found my cat in the woods.

22. Because the rain fell for three days, every street in town was flooded.

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2. FUNCTIONS OF AP

1. Pre-modifier / Post-modifier in the NP 2. Modifier of A (head) in the AP 3. Subject complement 4. Object complement 5. Adjective = Head of NP 6. Adjunct (verbless adjective clause / minor clause / abbreviated clause) 7. Disjunct (rare)

EXERCISE: Identify adjective phrases in the following sentences and state their functions.

1. Its important to wear warm clothing in winter.

2. We found the new secretary very helpful.

3. The old woman, weak at the knees, staggered towards the fire place.

4. That poor mans wearing socks full of holes.

5. Things went from bad to worse.

6. These are the most beautiful paintings Ive ever seen.

7. The supernatural attracts many people.

8. We chose the solution most likely to succeed.

9. Im afraid that you are completely mistaken about Jane.

10. Is there anything interesting in the papers?

11. These boxes are too heavy to carry.

12. The handicapped are given special facilities in public places.

13. The other candidates, confident and well-prepared, all passed the challenging test.

14. He seems quite satisfied with his new job.

15. Strange, I have never seen such a bright green cloud.

16. The worried host was glad that the food pleased the guests.

17. He is hard to convince.

18. Its hard to convince him.

19. The campaign produced results much better than were expected.

20. Some people find puppies more unbearable than naughty children.

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3. FUNCTIONS OF AdvP

1. Adjunct 2. Disjunct 3. Conjunct 4. Modifier in the AP / AdvP 5. Modifier in the NP 6. Object of preposition (rare)

EXERCISE: Identify Advs/AdvPs and state their functions.

1. The concert was a success artistically but not financially.

2. Esmiralda acted awfully strangely.

3. Frankly, I don't think this hat looks good on you.

4. Slowly but surely, we edged down the mountain.

5. She somewhat reluctantly returned home a week early.

6. Consequently, she was offered the job.

7. Put the chairs outside, please.

8. The boss has unwillingly given me a pay rise.

9. He works steadily enough but rather slowly.

10. Oddly enough, nothing valuable was stolen.

11. Im tired; I cant walk much further.

12. Hastily she hid the letter.

13. Undoubtedly, he is the finest pianist alive today.

14. He has been undergoing treatment for asthma since he was a boy; consequently, he never

went in for sports.

15. I suddenly saw a birds nest up there.

16. He hopelessly drove the cart backwards towards the deep ditch at the side of the road.

17. He could run faster than anybody here.

18. Shes more than happy to come with us tomorrow.

19. I need some time off so that I can relax myself.

20. There will be another performance later, the manager said firmly.

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4. FUNCTIONS OF PPs

Subject

Object / Complement of verb (= prepositional object)

Adjectival complement

Object of preposition (rare)

Adjunct

Disjunct

Conjunct

Subject complement

Object complement (about quality, state or mood of the object)

Post-modifier in the NP

Underline the Prepositional phrases in these sentences and state their functions:

1. Bill takes his car to the garage for maintenance every month.

2. Ive been staying here since last Saturday.

3. He was working with his lawn-mower in the garden the whole morning.

4. His illness left him without a job.

5. After supper would suit me best.

6. She was in tears when we found her in the forest.

7. To my surprise, she left without a word.

8. Please give this package to the boy over there.

9. The view from above the shore is magnificent.

10. Two men were interviewed at the police station in connection with a theft from a department

store.

11. Im very fond of music, in particular, traditional jazz.

12. Her parents paid for the wedding, but she decided on the detailed arrangements herself.

13. Im terribly bad at mathematics.

14. As a result, they divorced after their three months' marriage.

15. The last time I met Monica was at her wedding in September, but Im afraid I havent seen her

since then.

16. Andy attached the skis to the roof of his car with great care.

17. My favourite form of exercise is cycling in the forests.

18. I used to swim for an hour every day during my childhood.

19. Today we can send robots to the bottom of the sea to get information about life there.

20. A sound behind him made him turn around and bump into a tree.

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5. TYPES OF CLAUSE / VERB PATTERNS

EXERCISE: Identify the verb patterns of the following sentences.

1. He made her career a success.

2. Tom disappeared suddenly after the concert.

3. As a result, the marketing managers plan to promote sales has failed.

4. He convinced the jury of his innocence.

5. When food becomes scarce, living conditions become worse.

6. I'll put the dinner in the oven at 5 o'clock.

7. My grandma brought up seven children.

8. She brought seven children up.

9. There was a bridge across the river.

10. John made a nice cup of tea for Alice.

11. Ive promised myself to have some fun when the exams are over.

12. It was too late.

13. It was too hot.

14. Mary liked being outside.

15. I can teach you to swim.

16. The local authority should inform the public of the consequences.

17. She seemed very reluctant to agree to our proposals.

18. That guy wanted to buy my truck.

19. New technology can provide us with clean ways to produce energy.

20. Cocaine can damage the heart as well as the brain.

21. Max promised Bill to leave at night.

22. Phil has booked all his friends tickets for the show.

23. It surprised nobody that he failed to turn up.

24. Rose seems to be a strong leader.

25. Peter denied that he had left the lights on all night.

26. There are fewer companies engaged in manufacturing cars in the world now.

27. The park where you do exercises every morning will become a parking lot.

28. They found Winstons sense of humour rather disconcerting.

29. The environment will suffer during the next decade.

30. Our evening walk along the river finally took us to a small village.

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6. DEPENDENT CLAUSES

EXERCISE 1: Identify Nominal clauses in these sentences and determine their functions.

1. His ambition is to become a pilot.

2. I wonder when youll decide to see a dentist about that broken tooth.

3. The news that they divorced shocked all of us.

4. Her desire to become a singer made her parents sad.

5. The police asked the witness to report on the accident.

6. Adam suggests that I should answer the letter immediately.

7. Mary still doesnt understand why her father asked her to look for a boy named Roy.

8. Which route would be best isn't obvious.

9. The truth is that I cant remember where I met him.

10. Lucy was sure that she could identify her attacker.

11. I heard a rumour that there's been a leak of radioactivity.

12. To break your promise would be wrong.

13. I dislike people asking me personal questions.

14. I was worried about what to wear to the party.

15. It was reported that the army was crossing the frontier.

16. We should keep our planet clean by using fewer fossil fuels.

17. I think (that) walking in the country is a lovely way to spend a day.

18. Jeremy's hobby is inventing computer games.

19. Do you mind waiting a moment?

20. Im sorry that I couldnt meet you at the station.

21. Why he resigned was never discovered, but Im sure he was quite happy with his decision.

22. He said he was completely happy with what he had.

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EXERCISE 2: Identify dependent clauses and determine whether they are Nominal, Relative or

Adverbial clauses.

1. Evelyn always loved riding the elevators when staying at the Plaza.

2. Ive promised myself to have some fun when the exams are over.

3. If you join the library, you can borrow books.

4. Although John said his dog was well-behaved, I got nervous when it rushed towards me.

5. When I got home, I discovered that the blouse I bought had already been worn.

6. Physicists study the structure of atoms to find out how the world works.

7. Listening to the radio is better than watching TV while studying for exams.

8. To tell you the truth, I don't think you've much chance of success.

9. Embarrassed by all the attention, she left the festivities that were held on the beach at once.

10. We can supply you with everything that you need.

11. I was ashamed that I'd let my friends down.

12. Who gave you the idea that I can sing?

13. That's the stop where we get our bus.

14. I cant imagine where Peter has got to.

15. Sue parked the car where she had the day before.

16. My bedroom is tidier than my sisters bedroom, although hers is much more comfortable.

17. As you know, things are difficult just now.

18. Having finished the course, I have to look for a job.

19. Holding Marys hand, John asked her if she would like to spend the rest of her life with him.

20. Instead of landing at Heathrow, we had to go to Manchester.

21. Ken plans to move to a bigger flat after the spring semester ends.

22. Peter was not on the train that crashed, because he didnt reach the station in time.

23. The detective saw the woman putting the jewelry in her bag.

24. The reason why I can't go is that I don't have time.

25. Before leaving the house, Mr. Russo forgot to turn off the oven.

26. They had to take some of his land so that they could build a hospital supposed to be

completed in 2017.

27. The key to good communication is to pay attention to what other people have to say.

28. Frankly speaking, the suitcase that I bought before the trip has become so damaged that the

lid cannot be closed.

29. A similar situation occurred in the region of the Nile Basin where farmers are forced to use

irrigation techniques in order to subsist.

30. When he asked me why I didnt go abroad to earn money, I said that I want to work for my

own country.

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SUPPLEMENT

1. Disjunct & Conjunct

a. DISJUNCT / COMMENT CLAUSES

* sentence adverbials / sentence modifiers

* forms:

Finite verb clause Non-finite clause AdvP / PP

I think/ believe Stated frankly Personally

You know Frankly speaking Naturally

I'm afraid Generally speaking Obviously/ Certainly/ Surely

As I said To be frank Perhaps/ Of course

As you know To tell the truth Actually/ In fact

What's more To speak frankly (Un)fortunately/ (Un)luckily

If I may be frank Surprisingly

To my surprise/ To my regret

b. CONJUNCT

=> linking clauses and sentences together

e.g. first, next, last

furthermore, moreover, also, then

consequently, hence, thus, therefore

anyway, anyhow, however, nevertheless, still

meantime, meanwhile

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2. Kinds of Verbs

Types Sub-types Meanings

1. COPULA or LINKING

Be-type State, moods, condition

Be, seem, become, turn, grow, go

Perception Senses

See, hear, smell, feel, taste, notice

2. INTRANSITIVE

Complement Physical behaviour; sound making Ache, bleed, cough, cry, faint, fall, occur, scream, snore, sleep, yawn, yell

+ Adjunct Movement, position

Come, flow, go, run, travel, walk Be, hang, lie, stand, lie, sit, be situated, stay

+ Cognate object V + Deverbal noun

Die, smile, dance, laugh, live, dream, sigh

3. TRANSITIVE

Mono-transitive Feeling, preference, perception, action Like, love, hate, prefer, hear, see, do, eat, play

Mental judgement

Consider, believe, find, prove, judge, nominate, name

Movement, position

Occupy, enter, leave, reach, approach

Cause

Push, break, drive, lick, make, keep, open

Di-transitive GROUP 1 V + O + O

Give, tell, ask, show, bring, buy, write, send, pass

GROUP 2 V + O + [P+NP]

Borrow, explain, introduce, receive, accuse, waste

Deliberate action V + O + S' (non-finite cl.)

Ask, order, beg, promise, persuade, tell, warn

Semi-transitive No passive form; no object

Have, cost, weigh, measure, rise, fall, resemble

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3. The same word - different word classes / functions

MORE + We have more pupils this year. (determiner)

+ He wants more than I do. (Indefinite pronoun)

+ He works more than he used to. (adverb)

+ Jack could speak Chinese more fluently than Peter. (degree word)

INTERROGATIVES (who, whom, which, what, where, when, why, whose, how)

[a] Interrogative determiners

+ Which candidate will you vote for?

+ Whose racket is this?

[b] Interrogative pronouns

+ Who told you where I was?

+ What's your address?

[c] Interrogative adverbs

+ Where is he staying?

+ How are you travelling?

+ How tall is she?

[d] Interrogative conjunctions

+ I don't know if/ whether he'll come.

+ Put it where we all can see it.

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4. SOURCES OF AMBIGUITY

1. Different Lexical classes

e.g. They can fish.

They are cooking apples.

2. Genitive NP - (Generic / particular referents)

e.g. My small child's cot

This advanced learner's dictionary

3. Prepositional phrase - modifier of nouns / adjunct (means / place / time...)

e.g. The policeman hit the old man with a stick.

He saw the cat in the garden.

4. Co-ordination

e.g. Old men and women

very hot and stuffy

men and women of the noble class

N.B. Structural vs. Lexical ambiguity e.g. I saw her near the bank. (homonymy)

The seal is black. (homonymy)

He's engaged. (polysemy)

Some examples of ambiguous structures

1. My brother teaches history in a school for young boys and girls of wealthy parents.

=> young boys of wealthy parents + young girls of wealthy parents

=> young boys + girls of wealthy parents

=> young boys of wealthy parents + girls of wealthy parents

=> young boys + young girls of wealthy parents

2. We would like to attract more intelligent students.

3. I bought an old French dictionary.

4. They decided on the boat.

5. He gave her cat food.

6. He saw that petrol can explode.

7. They are flying planes.

8. Flying planes can be dangerous.

9. John passed the hammer and saw through the window.

10. Put the box on the table in the kitchen.

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11. I convinced her children are noisy.

12. Mary will discuss the problems with her husband.

13. Visiting relatives can be boring.

14. John persuaded the woman that Bill was dating.

15. They are hunting dogs.

SUGGESTED KEY

1. My brother teaches history in a school for young boys and girls of wealthy parents.

=> young boys of wealthy parents + young girls of wealthy parents

=> young boys + girls of wealthy parents

=> young boys of wealthy parents + girls of wealthy parents

=> young boys + young girls of wealthy parents

2. We would like to attract more intelligent students.

=> more (degree) // more (det)

3. I bought an old French dictionary.

=> old dictionary about French // dictionary about old French

4. They decided on the boat.

=> on the boat (object of V. = topic of discussion) // on the boat (adjunct)

5. He gave her cat food.

=> SVOO (her = NP, object) // SVOO (her cat = NP, object)

6. He saw that petrol can explode.

=> that (det, modifying petrol can) // that (conj., Nominal clause)

=> can (N = container) // can (auxiliary)

7. They are flying planes.

=> flying (lexV) // flying (adj)

8. Flying planes can be dangerous.

=> flying planes (NP) // flying planes (S)

9. John passed the hammer and saw through the window.

=> saw (lexV) // saw (N, carpenters tool)

10. Put the box on the table in the kitchen.

=> in the kitchen (post-modifier of table) // in the kitchen (adjunct)

11. I convinced her children are noisy.

=> her (NP, object of V) // her (det, modifying children)

12. Mary will discuss the problems with her husband.

=> with her husband (post-modifying of problems) // with her husband (adjunct)

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13. Visiting relatives can be boring.

=> visiting (adj) // visiting (lexV of S)

14. John persuaded the woman that Bill was dating.

=> that Bill was dating (Relative clause) // that Bill was dating (That-clause)

15. They are hunting dogs. => hunting (lexV) // hunting (adj)

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5. MODIFICATIONS IN NPS

Table 1: Pre-modification of NPs

Pre-determiner

[1]

Determiners [2]

identifier quantifier

Adj. / AP

[4]

Noun-modifier

[5]

De-nominal Adj.

[7]

HEAD

all

both

half

double

once

twice

fraction number

Articles

a/ an/ the

Possessive adjs.

My/ his/ her/ its/ our/ their/ your

Demonstrative

this/ that/ these/ those

Others

another/ any/ no/ each/ either/ neither/

enough/ much/ some/ what [a]/ which/ whose

Cardinal numbers

one/ two

Ordinal numbers

first/ second

Indefinite numbers

every/ few/ less/ little/ more/ other/

many [a]/ several/ a lot of/ most/ such

[a]

See Table 2 Material

nylon

leather

cement

brick

Origin/ PN

London

Saigon

New York

Others

college

factory

language

financial

commercial

economic

political

social

moral

problems

issues

situation

life

priests

inhabitants

port

City

students

workers

tests

Genitive NP => NP + s [3]

* poss. of names

* poss. of common nouns (specific referents)

Genitive NP [6]

* poss.of common nouns

(generic ref.)

Table 2: Positions of adjectives

quality size / shape height / girth age colour participle nationality / origin HEAD

nice

important

respectful

big round

small oval

tall fat

long thin

new

old

middle-aged

brown

black

red

carved

torn

Chinese

Portuguese

designs

papers

priests

E.g. + All his last five detective stories + These tiny long thin white torn ribbons

+ Some broken Chinese vases / Chinese broken vases + His three barking German dogs

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