Syntax

1st class on SyntaxChapter 4

Hierarchical Structure Sentences have internal structure

that makes them more than just a sequence of words.

They consist of semantically coherent groupings, which are organized into larger groupings.

The largest grouping is the sentence itself.

These groupings are called constituents.

Constituents NP = Noun Phrase

e.g., the boy VP = Verb Phrase

e.g., ate the apple PP = Prepositional Phrase

e.g., in the house AP = Adjective Phrase

e.g., beautiful

Constituents Tests Ability to stand alone (as answers to

questions):Linguists draw phrase tree structures to have fun. Who draw phrase tree structures to have fun?

Linguists What do linguists do?

draw phrase tree structures to have fun Why do linguists draw phrase tree structures?

to have fun What do linguists draw to have fun?

phrase tree structures

Tests (constituents) The substitution test

replace by an element such as they, it (NP), do so (VP), there (PP)

e.g., The children will stop at the corner

NP (they) VP (do so) PP (there)

Tests (constituents) The movement test

it can be moved as a single unit to a different position within a sentence

E.g., To have fun, linguists draw phrase tree

structures. Phrase tree structures are drawn by

linguists.

Which of the underlined expressions are constituents?

1. Chris ate the stale candy.2. Chris ate the stale candy.3. My little brother snores.4. My little brother snores.5. The clouds rolled across the sky.6. Some students hate computers.7. Many retired workers spend their time on relaxing

hobbies.8. Many retired workers spend their time on relaxing

hobbies.9. Many retired workers spend their time on relaxing

hobbies.10. We drank too much coffee last night.

Other examples

The child should put the puppy in the garden.

John and Mary are going to get married next week.

Syntactic Categories

1. That glass suddenly broke.2. A jogger ran toward the end of the

lane.3. These dead trees might block the

road.4. The detective hurriedly looked

through the records.5. The peaches appear quite ripe.6. Jack will play the trumpet and the

drums in the orchestra.

Trees The puppy found the child.

Category of each word? The = determiner (det) Puppy = noun (N) Found = verb (V) The = determiner (det) Child = noun (N)

Trees

The puppy found the child.

Constituents? The puppy (NP) Found the child (VP) The child (NP)

Trees

S

NP Aux VP

Trees

S

NP Aux VP

Det N

the puppy

Trees

S

NP Aux VP

Det N past

the puppy

Trees

S

NP Aux VP

Det N past V NP

the puppy found det N

the child

Other examples

The sun melted the ice.

The children put the toy in the box.

You should buy a house.