14 Questions
Which of the following correctly describes the use of parentheses in the phrase structure rules?
Parentheses indicate optional elements in the rule.
What is the purpose of the squiggly brackets in the phrase structure rules?
To indicate the choice between different rows of rules.
What is the main focus of this lecture?
To analyze the special group of ambiguous sentences in English.
What is the head of a noun phrase?
The noun
What is the relationship between the article, adjective phrase, noun, and preposition in a noun phrase?
They are all sisters to one another
What is the importance of hierarchical structure in human language?
It is more important than the actual sequence of words
How do the properties of a noun phrase in some languages affect other elements within it?
They change the gender and case of other elements
Based on the properties of the tree, where does the prepositional phrase 'with binoculars' have to be in order to mean that she used binoculars in order to see the man?
Part of the verb phrase
What is the potential ambiguity in the sentence 'She killed a man with an axe' and how can it be resolved?
The ambiguity is whether she used an axe or another tool to kill the man
What will be covered in the next lecture?
Word orders in languages different from English
Which phrase is always the subject of a sentence?
The noun phrase that is the daughter of S
Based on the text, why do verbs in many languages agree with the person, number, and gender of the subject?
Because the subject is in the position of the noun phrase that is the daughter of S
Which phrase is always the object of a preposition?
The prepositional phrase inside the noun phrase
Based on the text, where is the prepositional phrase located if it is modifying the verb?
Inside the verb phrase
Study Notes
Phrase Structure Rules
- Parentheses are used to indicate optional elements in phrase structure rules.
Noun Phrases
- The head of a noun phrase is the noun.
- The article, adjective phrase, noun, and preposition are related in a hierarchical structure in a noun phrase.
Hierarchical Structure
- Hierarchical structure is important in human language as it helps to disambiguate meanings.
Cross-Linguistic Variation
- The properties of a noun phrase in some languages can affect other elements within it.
Sentence Structure
- The prepositional phrase 'with binoculars' must be a sister to the verb 'see' in order to mean that she used binoculars to see the man.
- The sentence 'She killed a man with an axe' is potentially ambiguous, but can be resolved by preferring the reading where the axe is the instrument used to kill the man.
Future Lecture
- The next lecture will cover more topics in linguistics.
Sentence Components
- The subject of a sentence is always a noun phrase.
Verb Agreement
- Verbs in many languages agree with the person, number, and gender of the subject because of the hierarchical structure of language.
Prepositional Phrases
- A prepositional phrase is always the object of a preposition.
- A prepositional phrase can modify a verb, and in that case, it is located under the verb in the tree.
Test your understanding of direct objects and verb phrases with this quiz. Identify which noun phrase is the direct object and the sister to the verb in each sentence.
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