More Syntax

Introduction to the Study of Syntax 2:Advanced Phrase Structure, Recursion, and Complex Clauses

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Basic Clause StructuresS

VP

Aux

Adjunct Subject Predicate

Object

NP

NP

VP

V

Predicator

Operator

AdvP

Sometimes

will

take a cab

he

PP

In the morning

NP

Every night

Basic Clause StructuresS

VP

Aux

Adjunct Subject Predicate

Object

VP

V

Predicator

Operator

Proper

John

will

take a cab

Pro

he

NP

her husband

Perhaps

Basic Clause StructuresS

VP

Aux

Adjunct Subject Predicate

Object

VP

V

Predicator

Operator

Proper

John

will

take

Pro

him

NP

her husband

Maybe she

The formulation of rules

S NP VP(AdvP) (AdvP) (AdvP)

VP Aux VP

VP V NP

’’ reads ’can be rewritten as’

The notion of recursion

….. S …..S

….. NP …..NP

….. X …..X In general:

Complex Clause StructuresS

VP

S´Aux

Adjunct Subject Predicate

Object

VP

V

Predicator

OperatorS´

S´

Complex Clauses

Adverbial Subject

Verbal Object

Predicate

[S [S´ Because they have studied diligently] [NP the students] [VP may pass [NP their exams]]]

[S [S´ That they have studied diligently] [VP pleases [NP me]]]

[S [NP The students] [VP claim [S´ that they have studied diligently]]]

Because

Subord

S´

S

NP VP

they

have studied diligently

Subject Predicate

S

VP

VPAux

V NPmay

pass D N

their exams

NP

the students

Subject PredicateAdjunct

S

VP

V NP

pleases Pro

me

Predicate

That

Subord S

NP VP

they

have studied diligently

Subject Predicate

S´

Subject

S

VP

V

claim

PredicateSubject

NP

The students

that

Subord S

NP VP

they

have studied diligently

Subject Predicate

S´

Finite – non-finite

Every sentence (main, or root, clause) must contain a finite verb!

A finite verb is a verb marked for tense

Finite (tensed) verbforms:

-Ø/-s: walk, walksbreak, breaks

-ed: walkedbroke

Present

Past

Non-finite verbforms:

-Ø: walk, break

-en: walked, broken

-ing: walking, breaking

Infinitive,Imperative

Past ptc.

Present ptc.Gerund

Non-finite clauses

Subordinate (embedded) clauses may be finite or non-finite

I prefer [S´ that he takes a cab] finite

I prefer [S´ to take a cab]

I prefer [S´ for him to take a cab] non-finite

non-finite

Types of non-finite clauses …

Subject

Verbal Object

Predicate

[S [S´ To study diligently] [VP will please [NP the students]]]

Infinitive clause

[S [NP The professor] [VP wants [S´ the students to study diligently]]]Infinitive clause

[S [S´ Studying young people] [VP can be [AP interesting]]]

Gerund clause

Subject complement

[S [NP The professor] [VP wants [S´ to study diligently]]]Infinitive clause

Types of non-finite clauses

Adverbial

[S [S´ Having studied diligently] [NP the students] [VP may pass [NP their exams]]]

Present participle clause

[S [S´ Given enough time] [NP the students] [VP may pass [NP their exams]]]

Past participle clause

Subject

Verbal Object

Predicate

The

D N

professor

VP

V

wants

S

Predicate

NP

Subject

S´

NP

the students

S

Ø VP

work diligently

VPAux

to

Subject Predicate

Subord

Object

Infinitive clause‘accusative with infinitive’

The

D N

professor

VP

V

wants

S

Predicate

NP

Subject

S´

NP

Ø

S

Ø VP

work diligently

VPAux

to

Subject Predicate

Subord

Object

controls

[The professor] is the ‘logical subject’ of [to work]

Infinitive clause

S

VP

VPAux

V NPwill

please D N

the students

Predicate

Ø

Subord

S´

S

NP

VPØ

study diligently

Subject Predicate

To

VP

Aux

Subject

controls

S

VP

VPAux

V APcan

be

interesting

Predicate

S´

Subject

Ø

Subord S

NP

VPØ

Study young people

Subject Predicate

-ing

VP

Aux

Gerund Clause‘It can be interesting to study young people’

S

VP

VPAux

V APcan

be

interesting

PredicateSubject

people

Ø

D

NP

N´

AP

NStudying

young

N´

AP

NP‘Young people who study can be inter-esting’

S

VP

VPAux

V NPmay

pass their exams

PredicateAdjunct

students

NP

Subject

the

ND

VP

S´

Present Participle Clause

Ø

Subord S

NP

Ø

Study diligently

Subject Predicate

-ing

VP

Aux

controls

S

VP

VPAux

Vmay

pass

PredicateAdjunct

students

NP

Subject

the

ND

controls

VP

S´ Past Participle Clause

Ø

Subord S

NP

Ø

Give

-en

VP

Aux

enough timeV

V´Aux

{passive}

NP

NPV´

Ø

Oi

Od

subject

Test yourselves on these:

1. a. John is eager to pleaseb. John is easy to please

2. a. John persuaded Jill to see a doctorb. John promised Jill to see a doctor