Syntax Flashcards
1
Q
coordination
A
linking expressions using conjuctions like “and”, “or”, “but”
obeys two rules:
a. the conjuncts are constituents of the same category
b. coordination forms a phrase of the same category as that of the conjuncts
2
Q
Test for identifying constituents
A
- proform test
- movement test
- cleft test
- question test
3
Q
complement
A
= essential in defining the head
4
Q
modifier
A
= not essential in defining the head
5
Q
5 rules of auxiliaries
A
- In questions, auxiliaries appear in front of the subject NP, while lexical verbs cannot.
(85) *Works she? vs. Has she worked? Can she work? Does she work? - We can negate sentences with not or n’t only if an auxiliary is present:
(86) She can’t/cannot work vs. *She works not vs. She doesn’t/does not work - We find auxiliaries but not lexical verbs in tag questions:
(87) She has worked, hasn’t she? She worked, didn’t she? vs. *She worked, worked she? - Lexical verbs can take an NP complement, auxiliaries cannot:
(88) He needs/wants a computer. vs. *He must a computer. - Lexical verbs can be followed by a VP introduced by the infinitive particle to. Auxiliaries cannot appear with to:
(89) He wants to read it, she tried to read it; he must read it, she did read it
6
Q
Which verbs are auxiliaries?
A
- Modal auxiliaries: can, may, must, shall, will
- Other auxiliaries: be, and some uses of have and do
