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Lecture E: Phrase functions and clause functions

Lecture E: Phrase functions and clause functions. Syntax Week 4. functions of phrases and clauses. What do the words in a phrase do? What do phrases inside phrases do? What do the phrases in clauses do?. English rule: VP  V (NP) (NP) (PP)* Awa Pit rule: VP  (NP) V.

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Lecture E: Phrase functions and clause functions

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  1. Lecture E:Phrase functions and clause functions Syntax Week 4

  2. functions of phrases and clauses • What do the words in a phrase do? • What do phrases inside phrases do? • What do the phrases in clauses do?

  3. English rule: • VP  V (NP) (NP) (PP)* • Awa Pit rule: • VP  (NP) V

  4. The head of a phrase • A head is: • always grammatically obligatory (a phrase may consist of the head only) • the element within a phrase that relates to elements outside the phrase.

  5. All phrases have heads • The head of a NP is a • Noun • The head of a AdjP is an • Adjective • The head of a VP is a • Verb and so on… • Do clauses have heads? • yes, but rather than the head being a word, it’s a VP.

  6. What else does a phrase consist of besides a head? • A phrase may also contain one or more words (or phrases) which are not grammatically obligatory. • These elements are called dependents

  7. Dependents • Different phrases have different types of dependents • Types of dependents can be classified by their position in the phrase • Before the head - Pre-head dependent • After the head - Post-head dependent • or by their function in the phrase • Which functions occur in which phrases? • Which phrase types can be used in which functions?

  8. Functions in the Noun Phrase • The Determiner • Pre-head dependent • Always occurs first in the NP NOTE • The determinER is a function, which is most frequently filled by words of the class determinaTIVE. • The determiner function may also be filled by a genitive (or possessive) NP

  9. Examples of Determiners

  10. ThePre-head Modifier in NP • Occurs before the head, but after the determiner, if there is one. • Usually filled by AdjP • May also be filled by a reduced NP • There may be more than one PreHM in a NP

  11. Examples of PreHMs in NP

  12. The Post-head Modifier in NP • Occurs following the head • Typically filled by PP or S • There may be more than one PostHMs in a NP

  13. Examples of PostHMs in NP

  14. the small boy Detr:DetvPreHM:AdjPHead:N with the large dog PostHM:PP

  15. The Complement in NP • Similar to PostHMs in many respects: • Has a post-head position • Usually filled by PP or S • The difference between a complement and a modifier lies in the relationship with the head. There are ways to test this difference.

  16. Distinguishing between (post-head) Modifiers and Complements • Modifiers: • Restrict the possible reference of an NP. • Give additional information about the head, such as an attribute or property. eg. Which cat did you see? The cat with white fur.

  17. Complements: • Complete the structure/meaning associated with the head. • Usually cannot be left out of the phrase. eg. My insistence on punctuality is well known. *My insistence is well known. *Which insistence? (Insistence on what?)

  18. Modifiers: • Can be filled by PPs beginning with a variety of prepositions. eg. The boy with the dog /in the tree /outside the house /on the swings. • Complements: • Have little or no flexibility in the choice of preposition - it is controlled by the head noun. eg. My interest in /*on /*at /*with syntax

  19. Nouns which take complementsare often related to verbs. • Some of these verbs are also followed by a PP with the same preposition as found in the NP complement. eg. My insistence on punctuality I insist on punctuality • If the verb does not take a following PP, the noun usually takes a PP complement starting with of. eg. I dislike spandex My dislike of spandex

  20. Functions in the Adjective Phrase • The Pre-head Modifier in AdjP • Basically restricted to degree adverbs eg. very, extemely, rather, so and too.

  21. The Complement in AdjP • Similar to complement in NP • Typically a PP or S • Has close relationship to head - completes the structure/meaning of the head • Restrictions on the type of complement, depending on the head Adj eg. mad about /at /*on /*in /*with intrigued by /that /*at /*in

  22. Functions in the Adverb Phrase • The Pre-head Modifier in AdvP • Can only be filled by a degree adverb • The Complement in AdvP • Filled by a PP or S • Point to note: • A complement is only allowed in AdvP when there is also a PreHM. eg. too quietly to hear

  23. Functions in the Preposition Phrase • The Pre-head Modifier in PP • Filled by AdvP (head-only) eg. justaround the bend, right beside you • The Complement in PP • Usually filled by NP, but also PP or S eg. outsidethe house, overbehind the couch, beforeyou leave the room

  24. Hierarchical structure - phrases within phrases

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