Week 5 Flashcards
Nominal positions
- Subject
- Direct object
Finite subclauses can occupy several structural positions (i.e. can fulfil several functions).
Other positions
Extraposed subject
Finite subclauses can occupy several structural positions (i.e. can fulfil several functions).
Non-nominal complement positions
- Complement to N
- Complement to A
- Complement to P
Finite subclauses can occupy several structural positions (i.e. can fulfil several functions).
Non-nominal modifier positions
- Adverbial
- Modifier of nominal
Finite subclauses can occupy several structural positions (i.e. can fulfil several functions).
What is remarkable about subordinating conjunctions?
They can only appear in adverbial clauses. This, therefore, is a restricted class of complementisers.
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions carry more meaning than the standard complementisers that and whether: they introduce conditions, reasons, results, purpose.
Examples: although, unless, since, if, because, once, as, now, so, while.
If-clause
If = condition for firing him.
I’ll fire him [if he doesn’t work harder].
So-clause
So = reason for my leaving.
I’m leaving [so I can catch my train].
What do adjunct adverbial clauses modify?
Adjunct adverbial clauses modify the event introduced in a VP.
I will be rich if I win the lottery (adjunct adverbial clause).
Other two adverbial clauses…
- Conjunct: comment on why the sentence is being expressed, relative to the discourse.
If you’re wondering, I’ll split the winnings 50/50.
- Disjunct: provide the speaker’s opinion on her own expression.
It’ll make me a millionaire, if I’m not mistaken.
What is the position of an adjunct adverbial clause in a tree?
Adjunct adverbial clauses are sister to the highest VP (higher than temporal subclausal adjuncts).
Where do conjunct and disjunct adverbial clauses appear in a tree?
They are sisters to S (and daughters to S).
How are relative clauses introduced?
They are introduced by a relative pronoun (1) that refers to the antecedent (2)
Books (2) which (1) reviewers have praised are popular.
What do relative clauses modify?
Nouns, because they occur inside NPs.
Books [which reviewers have praised •] are popular.
What do relative clauses contain?
A gap
Books [which reviewers have praised •] are popular.
Restrictive and non-restrictive applies to…
Relative clauses
Restrictive relative clause
Restrictive relative clauses restrict the number of possible referents for the antecedent.
Food [which we like •] is now available.
Non-restrictive relative clause
Non-restrictive relative clauses give additional information about the (unique) referent identified by the antecedent.
Food, [which we like •], is now available.
How do restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses appear in a tree?
They both are sister to N’.
s11.
What are tests for distinguishing between restrictive and non-restrictive relative clauses?
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Intonation
• Non-restrictive relatives necessarily receive “comma-intonation”:
- The neighbours, who I like…
• Restrictive relatives don’t usually receive “comma-intonation”.
- The neighbours who I like… -
Modifying proper nouns
• Non-restrictive relatives can modify proper nouns: John, who I like…
• Restrictive relatives can’t modify proper nouns: *John who I like…
*Restrictive relatives can only modify proper nouns if they are first transformed into common nouns: The Joun that I like has arrived.
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Restriction on COMP
• Non-restrictive relatives can only be introduced by a WH-phrase.
- The friends, [who I like •], left.
- The friends, [that I like •], left.
- The friends, [Ø I like •], left.
• Restrictive relatives can often be introduced by a WH-phrase, that, or Ø.
- The friends [who I like •] left.
- The friends [that I like •] left.
- The friends [Ø I like •] left.
Can also learn table from PP14.
Syntactic difference between that-relatives and noun complement clauses
That-relatives are sisters to N’ whereas noun complement clauses are sisters to N.
