Syntax Flashcards
Constituents/Phrases
Synctatic units
Pronominalisation
The substitution of a constituent by a
pronoun
Pro-form
Used interchangeably with the established term pronoun, keeping in mind
that a ‘pro-noun’ is actually a pro-phrase
Movement Test
If a string of words can be
moved to other sentential positions, it is proof of the string’s being a constituent
Coordination Test
It is only constituents that can be coordinated by the coordinating conjunction ‘and’
Gapping Test
A tag question leaves a gap, in which we could insert the missing string
Sentence-fragment Test
Only certain types of string can form possible sentence fragments which speakers can use to, for example, answer a question
Structural Ambiguity
In cases in which different interpretations arise through different sentence structures assigned to the same strings of words
Head
The most important element of a phrase (Prepositional, Noun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb)
Noun Phrases
Phrases headed by a noun
Projections
The head projects its properties onto the phrase as a whole
Word-Classes
Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Prepositions, Adverbs, Articles, Demonstratives, Possessives, Conjunctions,
Phrase Structure Rules
Phrase structure provides distinct slots which can only be occupied by certain types of constituents
Subordinate Clauses
The possibility to have sentences inside sentences
Clause
A syntactic unit that con-
sists minimally of a verb phrase and its subject
Sentences
The largest syntactic units and they are made up of one or more clauses
Matrix Clause/Main Clause
Clauses that can stand on their own
Subject-Verb Agreement
Syntactic process which requires
subject and verb to share the same person and number features
Case Forms
Forms that mark the grammatical function of noun phrases in a sentence or phrase
Transitive Verbs
Verbs that need an object
Intransitive Verbs
Verbs that cannot take an object
Di-transitive Verbs
Verbs that can take two objects, like give, or show
Direct Object
One of the objects denotes an entity that
undergoes the action or process denoted by the verb
Indirect Object
The object that denotes the goal, the recipient or the benificiary of the event denoted by the verb
Adverbial/Adjunct
Constituents that provide information about the circumstances of the
action denoted by the verb and its subject and object(s)
Complement
Semantically and structurally highly dependent sister constituents of heads
Predicative Complements
Complements that do not behave like objects
Syntax
The formation of sentences and the associated grammatical rules
Small Clause
Infinitive, basic verb without without finite information
Independent Clause
A group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought
Dependent Clause
A group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought
Diction
Defines the style of written or spoken language, representing the choices a speaker or writer makes within the rules of grammar and syntax
Modifier
A word or phrase intended to change, or modify, another part of the sentence
Sentence Fragment
Doesn’t make a complete statement
Comma Placement
Proper syntax requires at least one comma to separate a list of three items
Oxford Comma
Separates the last item in a list
Verb Tense
The way you change a verb based on the time period when it happened
Unnecessary Word
An infinitive that is not required for a sentence to make sense
Run-On Sentence
The absence of punctuation makes the statement appear vague and rushed
