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The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

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Syntax,LANE 334, Beginning Syntax/Linda Thomas, Dr. Shadia Banjar,2010.
43
The Noun Phrase Rawia Aljehani
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Page 1: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

The Noun Phrase

Rawia Aljehani

Page 2: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

In the example sentences we have used so far the noun phrases have mainly been simple, consisting of either DET+N or just N. [The dog]chased the girl. [Girls] hate boys.

The most meaningful part of a noun phrase is the noun. It is obligatory constituent and is the HEAD of the noun phrase.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 3: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

A noun phrase could consist of a PRONOUN

Types of pronouns:

1-Personal

2- Indefinite

3-Demonstrative

4-INTERROGATIVE

5-POSSESSIVE

6-REFLEXIVE

Rawia Aljehani

Page 4: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

1-Personal :Personal pronouns refer to specific entities

She loves football.it refer to a specific she, and one who we presume thehearer or the reader can identify.Unlike the nouns in noun phrase, some of the personalpronouns have different forms according to their sentenceposition. the nouns in the following examples are the same in either

position:Girls hate boys. Boys hate girls.

Compare the above to the following personal pronouns:I hit her She hit meThe form of the pronoun changed according to

whether it is in subject position or not.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 5: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

These are examples of personal pronouns. The personal pronouns are :

1st person singular I/ me1st personal plural we/ us

2nd person singular you2nd personal plural you

3rd person singular she / her he / him it3rd personal plural they / them

Rawia Aljehani

Page 6: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

You may remember that one of the tests for

categorizing a noun phrase is the ability to

replace it with a pronoun. 10) A dog chased that girl

Can become :11) It chased her

And12)Girls hate boys

Can become:13) They hate them

Rawia Aljehani

Page 7: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

INDEFINITE :

referring to unspecific entities: some ,

something , anything , anyone, someone.

Some like it hotAnything foes

Demonstrative : this ,that , these , those

This is really pretty That is very ugly

Rawia Aljehani

Page 8: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

INTERROGATIVE: who, which, what , whose

Who is coming to dinner?

POSSESSIVE: mine , yours , hers , ours , yours

(plural), theirsThe red book is min

REFLEXIVE: myself, yourself , herself , himself ,

itself , ourselves, yourselves, themselves.Ken loves himselfRawia Aljehani

Page 9: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

As is customary we have been marking the presence of a pronoun in tree diagrams. The shorthand version is PRO. for example:

Rawia Aljehani

Page 10: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Noun phrases can consist of : One constituent which is the head ,or more than one

constituent (e.g. DET + N ).

Where other constituents do exist, they form part of the noun phrase and are said to modify the head noun.

Constituents which modify the head noun can appear before it or after it.

1- Pre-modifiers: those which appear before the head noun.

2- Post-modifiers: those which appear after the head noun.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 11: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Pre-modification Post-modification

1-

Prepositional

phrase(PP).

2-Relative

clause

1- Determiners

(DET).

2- Adjective

phrases(AP).

3- Genitives.

4- Nouns(N).Rawia Aljehani

Page 12: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Determiners Determiners are :

1- Indefinite articles: a/an

2- Definite article: The

3- Demonstratives: this, that, these, those.

4-Quantifiers: some, any, each, every, no, etc.

5- possessives: my, your, her, his, its, our,

your(plural), their.

6- WH-determiners: whose, what, which.Rawia Aljehani

Page 13: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Some of the determiners appear to be the same or similar to some

of the pronouns listed before (e.g. the demonstratives).

Sort out the differences between them in the following

examples:1-some like it hot

2-Some people like it hot.

3-Which is the train to Ipswich?

4-Which train goes to Ipswich?

You should have noticed that PRONOUNS appear on their own to

form the noun phrase; DETERMINERS appear with a head noun.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 14: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

GenitivesThe possessive determiner can also be realized as a phrase . For example:This boy’s clothes are incredibly dirty. Kate's baby is crying .Where there is an NP (this boy, Kate)+’s . These possessive phrases (POSS) or genitives take the sentence position normally occupied by the determiner as in:

The Kate's

Baby is crying.

we will analyze it as a determiner as follows

Rawia Aljehani

Page 15: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

S

NP

DET N{inteans}

N

Kate ‘s baby ( pres ) is crying

s p

VP

Vgp

POSS AUX V

NP TENSE

PROG

Rawia Aljehani

Page 16: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

ADJECTIVE PHRASES (AP):

Adjective Phrases (AP) are also used to pre-modify nouns .We looked briefly at the constitution of adjective phrase earlier .Using the example The dog chased a girl , The dog could also be the fat dog .The adjective fat slots in between the determiner the, and the noun dog, so that the noun phrase is expanded .That is :The dog chased a girl. The fat dog chased a girl.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 17: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

An adjective phrase , like any other phrase ,can consist of one or more than one element (e.g. fat, very fat ).Within the NP, the AP has the function of pre-modifying the head. However, when analyzing function we will continue to label only the higher level sentence function of the entire NP , in this case either the dog or the fat dog

In the sentences The dog chased a girl. The fat dog chased a girl.at these noun phrases are the subject and the entire noun phrase with or without a pre- modifying adjective phrase is analyzed as such.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 18: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

The dog The fat dog It

Chased a girl

S P dO

To see how this works, substitute a pronoun for the noun phrase .Using the pronoun it for the subject .

Now in the question arises of how this new –look noun phrase is analyzed in terms of its constituent parts and how it appears on a tree diagram .One possibility is

Rawia Aljehani

Page 19: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

S

VPNP

NPVgp[trans]

NDETVAUX

DET AP N

A

The fat dog

TENSE

(past) chased a girl

(31b) The fat dogS

(past) chased P

a girl dO

Rawia Aljehani

Page 20: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

One of the reasons we had for forming individual constituents into phrases was that they seemed to belong closely together (as with DET and N, for example) .

One way we have of testing this is to substitute a pronoun ,as we have just done ,to see what is replaced.

In the above example , this showed us that the tree constituents determiner , adjective phrase and noun ,all belong together to form one phrase the noun phrase .

Rawia Aljehani

Page 21: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Which fat dog chased a girl .

That one (=that fat dog .(

It is also the case that fat and dog seem to belong together more closely than the and fat or the and dog .

Perhaps then the two constituents AP and N from a separate phrasal constituents at a lower level within the NP. We can test this suggestion by using a WH-determiner to question the statement at as follows:

In the answer, the determiner that replace the determiner which, but the term one replace not just dog, but fat dog. So that three elements which+ fat + dog have been replaced by tow, that + one.Rawia Aljehani

Page 22: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

The need for the determiner remain constant but because the tow elements fat and dog can be replaced by one element (i.g. one), this means that they function together at this level as a single unit or constituent.

If tow element function as one constituent, they should have their own exclusive node within the tree.

In the above diagram, the elements fat and dog do not have such a node. They are both dominated by the NP node but this is not exclusive since it also includes DET.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 23: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

We must therefore create a system which shown not only that the three elements the+ fat+ dog from one constituent (that is, dominated by the NP node), but that the elements also fat + dog form a complete constituent within that larger one.

What we can do then is to break the subject noun phrase down as follows:

Rawia Aljehani

Page 24: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Adjective phrases (AP)

s

NP VP

DET ?? Vgp NP

(trans)

AP N AUX V DET N

A TENSE

The fat dog (past) chased a girl

Rawia Aljehani

Page 25: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

This shows us that the entire noun phrase the fat dog is one constituent (replaceable by it) and another constituent, fat+ dog ( replaceable by one).

The problem then arises as to what this constituent fat+ dog should be called. It is not a full NP since it does not contain a determiner, neither a noun (N).

The constituent has to be given another label. One solution is to use a label from a theory of syntax called X-bar theory and called this constituent N-bar (written N’). the label N’ which will signify that this is an intermediate constituent, smaller than an NP but larger than an N.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 26: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Adjective phrases (AP)

Rawia Aljehani

s

NP VP

DET N’ Vgp NP (trans)

AP N AUX V DET N

A TENSE

The fat dog (past) chased a girl

Page 27: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Noun phrases can contain more than one adjective as the earlier example the fat brown dog indicates. That is:

(35) The fat brown dog chased a girl.

In the same that the dog in example (29a), and the fat dog in example (29b) from one noun phrase, so too dose the fat brown dog, even through it has more constituent parts. Try again the substituention test by replacing the subject noun phrase in (35) with the pronoun it.

We now have to work out how to show this noun phrase on the tree diagram and will start by looking at the question:

(36) Do you like this fat brown dog or that thin one?

Do you understand one in this question to mean dog or brown dog? If you understand it to mean the letter then one is replacing brown+ dog, in which case these tow elements form one unit. again, this unit is smaller than an NP, but larger than an N, so is labelled N’. Rawia Aljehani

Page 28: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Adjective phrases (AP) This is represented on the tree diagram s

NP VP DET N’ Vgp N

AP N’ V DET N A AP N

A The fat brown dog chased a girl

Rawia Aljehani

Page 29: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Rules to remember: adjective phrases (AP)AP (AdvP) +AFunction: 1. sC 2. oCe.g. 1.the dog is (quite disgustingly) fat 2. john made is Kate angryORFunction: pre-modifier within NPe.g. The fat brown dog chased a girl

Rawia Aljehani

Page 30: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

NounsNouns also serve to pre-modify. For example :

I bought a new computer game.

The noun pre-modify is closely connected to the head noun that the two can almost be considered one word.

This close link is illustrated by the fact that when nouns do pre-modify other nouns they always come next to the head noun nothing else can come between them.

Rawia Aljehani

Page 31: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

S

NP VP

POR

Vgp[trans]

V

NP

DET N

AP

A

N

N N

I bought a new computer game

The analysis should reflect the fact that the noun pre-modifier and the head noun are so closely linked. We can do this by including them both under the name N

node:

Rawia Aljehani

Page 32: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Post-modificationAs stated before, constituents which modify the

head noun can also appear after the noun. Such

constituents are Post-modifiers. Here we will look

at two ways to post-modify a noun:

1-PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE:

e.g. The dog chased the cat with three legs

2-RELATIVE CLAUSE:

e.g. The cat which is lying on the mat hates dog

Rawia Aljehani

Page 33: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Prepositional Phrase (PP)We have looked at prepositional phrase

(PP) with regard to other functions; as adverbials and as indirect objects.

Now we come to a further function; that of post-modifying the head noun in a noun phrase.

The dog chased the cat with three legs

S P dO

Rawia Aljehani

Page 34: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

The dog chased the cat with three legs

S P dO

Just as an adjective before the noun, the prepositional

phrase after the noun is acting to modify the noun by

defining or describing it.

The prepositional phrase belongs closely to the cat and forms part of the noun phrase.

Its function within the noun phrase is to post-modify the

head noun; at a higher level, the function of the entire

noun phrase (including the prepositional phrase) is direct

object of the sentence.

We can check that the prepositional phrase forms part of the

noun phrase by again substituting

pronoun it for the direct object of the sentence . Rawia Aljehani

Page 35: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

The dog chased it.

As you can see, it has replaced the entire expression the cat with three leg, not just the cat.

Compare this to a sentence where a prepositional phrase is functioning as an adverbial:

The dog chased the cat up the tree

S P dO A

If we use the pronoun it to replace the direct object in this sentence we get:

The dog chased it up the tree.Here it has only replaced the expression the cat.

Inthis example, the cat and up the tree are separateconstituent.

Page 36: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

If we use the pronoun it to replace the direct object in this sentence we get:

(45) The dog chased it up the tree.

Here it has only replaced the expression the cat. In this example, the cat and up the

tree are separate constituent.Another way to check this is to move the direct-

object NPs in each example to the subject position (as in the passive):

Page 37: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Another way to check this is to move the directobject NPs in each example to the subject position(as in the passive):The cat with three legs was chased (by the dog).

It is the determiner and noun (the cat) +theprepositional phrase which moves to subjectPosition thereby function as one unit.

The cat was chased up the tree (by the dog).It is only the noun phrase the cat which moves,Leaving The separate PP constituent behind.

Page 38: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

NP

DETN PP

P NP

AP N

A

the cat with three legs

Page 39: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

This though runs into the same type of problem that we had with adjective Phrases in that if we ask the question :

The need for a determiner remains constant but the term one is understood as replacing cat with three legs, not just cat . That phrase cat with three legs must then function at this level as a constituent separate from DET and the tree diagram should show this ,as below :

Do you prefer this cat with three legs or that one

Page 40: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

S

NP

DET N

VP

Vgp trans]

V

NP

DET N

N PP

P NP

AP

A

N

The dog chased the cat wit three legs

Page 41: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

The dog chased the cat with three legs .

S P dO

The intermediate constituent cat with three legs is

again labelled N’ to indicate that it is smaller than

NP but lager than N.

Page 42: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

S

NP

DET N

VP

Vgp[trans]

AUX V

TENSE

NP

DET N

PP

P NP

DET N

The dog (past) chased the cat up the tree

s P dO A

Page 43: The Noun Phrase Presented By Rawia Aljehani

Rules to remember : Prepositional Phrase (PP)

PP P (+ NP )Function :

1.A

2. iO

3. sC

4. oC

5. pO

6.post-modifier withen NP.

E.g.

1- sally looked up /Sally looked up the chimney .

2- Sue gave a jumper to Oxfam .

3- George is in the garden .

4- Carol put the care in the garage .

5- The children at the pictures . 6-The dog chased the cat with three legs .Rawia Aljehani


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