MT2 - syntax

Question 1

syntax

Answer 1

the study of how we put words together into sentences

Question 2

constituent structure

Answer 2

something that functions as a unit in a sentence

Question 3

projections and 4 parts

Answer 3

phrases governed by word class (ex. NP, VP), head/complement/adjunct/specifier

Question 4

head

Answer 4

the fundamental word in each phrase

Question 5

complement

Answer 5

something we must add

Question 6

adjunct

Answer 6

an optional addition

Question 7

specifier

Answer 7

ex. determiners for a NP, closed class, sister to an X’ and daughter to an XP

Question 8

NP

Answer 8

(Det) (AP)* N (PP)

Question 9

AP

Answer 9

(Deg) (Adv) A

Question 10

degree words (3 examples)

Answer 10

very, more, most

Question 11

AdvP (formula and what they can modify)

Answer 11

(Deg) Adv (PP), anything except nouns

Question 12

PP

Answer 12

P NP

Question 13

VP

Answer 13

(Aux) V (NP) (NP) (AdvP)* (PP)*

Question 14

intransitive verbs

Answer 14

don’t require any complements

Question 15

transitive verbs

Answer 15

require 1 NP as complement

Question 16

ditransitive verbs

Answer 16

require 2 complements

Question 17

prepositional verbs

Answer 17

require 1 PP as complement

Question 18

object

Answer 18

the complement of a verb, if it is a N/NP

Question 19

constituency tests

Answer 19

tests used to determine if a string of words forms a constituent

Question 20

5 examples of constituency tests

Answer 20

i) substitution (sub ONE in NP or DID/DID SO in VP)
ii) passive test
iii) fragment (question) test
[i-iii: head + complements will stick together]
iv) parallel test (can you repeat?)
v) stick something between head & complement

Question 21

syntax trees

Answer 21

a set of claims about constituent structures, or an interpretation of the sentence

Question 22

6 terms about syntax trees

Answer 22

branches, nodes, sisters, mothers, immediately dominate, daughters

Question 23

X-bar theory and structure

Answer 23

X’ is a constituent structure found between word classes and phrases
…you know the structure…

Question 24

complex sentences (definition and formula)

Answer 24

have more than one clause

= main clause + subordinate clause(s)

Question 25

clause

Answer 25

a syntactic unit with a subject and predicate

Question 26

independent clause

Answer 26

can stand on its own

Question 27

every clause includes a …, and therefore a … in its …

Answer 27

VP, verb, predicate

Question 28

independent clauses must contain a … (+ its defn)

Answer 28

finite verb - marked for tense/person/#/aspect/etc.

Question 29

auxiliary verbs

Answer 29

verbs used in forming tenses/moods/voices of other verbs

Question 30

modal auxiliaries

Answer 30

express possibility/permission/ability (can/shall/may/will)

Question 31

aspectual auxiliaries

Answer 31

express aspect/whether something is completed/continuous (is/have)

Question 32

infinitive verb (definition and what it is placed after)

Answer 32

non-finite, non-marked, “general” form of verb.

placed after “to” or a modal aux

Question 33

participles

Answer 33

often used with aspectual aux
present participle -ing
past participles are often used as adjectives

Question 34

subordinate clause (aka 2) (definition)

Answer 34

aka embedded or dependent clause

can’t stand alone as a complete sentence

Question 35

relative clause (definition and “often uses …”

Answer 35

subordinate clauses that modify a head noun

often uses conjunction who/which/that, but can also be CONTACT RELATIVE