Pedagogical Grammar ENG 240 Chapter 5

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Questions and Answers

Which statement about reflexive pronouns is correct?

A reflexive must be used in all binding contexts.

Reflexive pronouns cannot be used in embedded clauses.

A reflexive must be bound within the closest finite FinP dominating it. (correct)

A reflexive can be bound outside the closest finite FinP dominating it.

In the context of syntactic binding, what characterizes a non-reflexive pronoun?

It must always refer to the subject of the sentence.

It cannot be bound within the closest finite FinP dominating it. (correct)

It can be bound within the closest finite FinP dominating it.

It must be bound within the closest finite FinP dominating it.

What is an example of a case where c-command does not hold?

Harry blamed himself.

John's sister likes Mary’s ideas about herself.

John sees him in the mirror.

The book about the president upset himself. (correct)

What is the primary feature that allows one element to c-command another in syntax?

The node that immediately dominates A must also dominate B. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples demonstrates correct binding of reflexive pronouns?

Peter and Bill excused themselves. Signup and view all the answers

When a subject operates with a reflexive pronoun, what is a crucial binding principle?

A reflexive must refer to the subject of the clause. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario violates the rules of subject-verb agreement?

She like to play tennis. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an accusative case pronoun?

Him Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes reflexive pronouns from non-reflexive pronouns?

Reflexive pronouns must be bound by a nearby antecedent. Signup and view all the answers

Which principle of Binding Theory states that a reflexive must be bound by a nearby antecedent?

Principle A Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of having an uninterpretable feature [uF] match with an interpretable feature [F]?

It contributes to syntactic well-formedness. Signup and view all the answers

How is the nominative case formed according to the content given?

As a result of [uFin] on DP in SpecFinP. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of c-command in syntax?

It provides a mechanism for establishing syntactic relations between terms. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding binding relations?

Reflexive pronouns must always reference a nearby antecedent. Signup and view all the answers

In the example 'Every boy who knows his house can direct you to it,' what does the index signal?

Possession of the house. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of syntactic well-formedness, what effect does the introduction of agreement have?

It necessitates a formal feature matching process. Signup and view all the answers

What is the requirement for a reflexive pronoun according to Principle A?

It must be bound by a c-commanding antecedent dominated by the closest FinP. Signup and view all the answers

According to Principle B, what restriction is placed on non-reflexive pronouns?

They cannot be bound by a c-commanding antecedent that is dominated by the closest FinP. Signup and view all the answers

What is the key concept of the 'Elsewhere' Principle in grammar?

More specific forms are preferred unless they violate grammatical rules. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes an uninterpretable feature [uF] in syntax?

It must be c-commanded by a matching interpretable feature [F] in the same finite clause. Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'Mary loves herself', which syntactic factor is at play?

The reflexive pronoun is c-commanded by an antecedent. Signup and view all the answers

What does Principle B state about the use of reflexive and non-reflexive pronouns?

If a reflexive is available, it must be used when possible. Signup and view all the answers

In relation to c-command, what must a non-reflexive pronoun be able to do?

It must not be directly c-commanded by its antecedent. Signup and view all the answers

What type of features are required to be matched within the same phrase for grammaticality?

Both uninterpretable feature [uF] and interpretable feature [F]. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Course Details

Course Title: Pedagogical Grammar
Course Code: ENG 240
Semester: Fall 2024
Days: Mondays & Thursdays
Time: 13:30 - 15:00

Chapter 5: Introducing Syntax

Covering: Agreement and Uninterpretable Features
Authors: Olaf Koenen (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen) and Hedde Zeijlstra (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)

Agreement & Uninterpretable Features

Today's focus: Understanding agreement reflecting syntactic dependencies.
Next steps: Implementing agreement.
Further exploration: Consequences of binding and C-command.

Agreement in Syntactic Dependencies

Example (1):
- Incorrect: "John love her." "I loves him."
- Correct: "John loves her." "I love him."
- Explanation: Syntactic agreement between subject and finite verb form.
Example (2): Modern English verb "to speak"
- Singular: I speak, you speak, he/she/it speaks
- Plural: we speak, you speak, they speak
Example (3): Middle English verb "to speak"
- Singular: I speak-e, thou speak-est(t), he/she/hit speak-eth
- Plural: we speak-en, youspeak-en, they speak-en

Agreement Paradigm: Cross-Linguistic

Includes examples from Greek (mılώ 'to speak'), French (parler 'to speak'), and Spanish (hablar 'to speak').

A Quick Note on Agreement

Agreement markers in English are obligatory.
Agreement markers are semantically inactive, meaning they don't affect the meaning.
Examples illustrate that the difference between correct and incorrect sentences depends on agreement, not the semantic meaning.

Person and Number Features

Person and number features on the subject and the finite verb are comparable.
However, person and number features on the noun have a more significant impact on the meaning of the sentence than verb features.
The examples highlight variations across different English dialects (standard, African American Vernacular, West Country English), demonstrating that while the features may be comparable, the meanings vary based on the specific language and its nuances.

Interpretable Features

A singular Agent and a single activity don't rely on person/number features.
Plural agents and multiple events create a different kind of meaning.

Uninterpretable Features

Agreement markers on verbs are semantically inactive.
Uninterpretable features on V/Fin, are not on DP.
A clause with an uninterpretable feature needs a matching interpretable feature.

Person and Number Agreement

Tree diagrams illustrating the various components of a sentence structure (FinP and its constituents).
Shows that the verb's agreement is linked to uninterpretable features in the Fin head and the interpretable features on the subject.

Binding & Coreference

Demonstrates the semantic implications of binding: coreference between a reflexive pronoun and its antecedent.
Reflexive pronouns are examples of expressions bounded to a coreferential expression.

Non-Reflexive Pronouns

Pronouns can be coreferential but do not need to be.
Reflexive pronouns are distinct in that they must be bound to a nearby antecedent.

Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive Pronouns

Pronouns can be coreferent to other expressions, however reflexive pronouns' function requires binding.
Examples of binding restrictions and their impact on grammaticality.

Binding Theory

Principle A: A reflexive must be bound by a nearby antecedent.
Principle B: A non-reflexive pronoun cannot be bound by a nearby antecedent.

Binder and Bindee

Principles A & B dictate reflexive and non-reflexive pronoun binding relations. Illustration of correct and incorrect structures based on these principles.

Closest Finite FinP

Principle A(revised): Refined binding condition that a reflexive must be bound within the closest finite FinP.
Principle B (revised): Specifies that a non-reflexive pronoun cannot be bound within the closest finite FinP.

A Structural Relation

Illustrates issues of reflexive binding involving certain structures

The Structural Relation: C-Command

Defines c-commanding in terms of domination on a syntactic tree.

C-Command: An Illustration

Examples of c-command and non-c-command relationships on trees.

John likes Mary's ideas about herself.

Illustration of a sentence structure with appropriate binding and c-command relations

Binding Principles A & B (Final)

Final version of principles A & B emphasizing binding in light of the closest finite FinP.

An Extension of Binding Principle B

Principle B provides an alternative approach, emphasizing the choice between reflexive and non-reflexive pronouns.
The rules prioritize the more specific form to avoid any conflicts with established grammatical rules in cases of competition.

Binding and Agreement

The connection between binding and agreement is made clear in the case of uninterpretable features.

Mary loves herself.

Illustration of correct sentence structure and features associated with this structure.

*I loves the child.

Example of an incorrect sentence, highlighting the importance of maintaining agreement between subject and verb.

Indicate all the binding

Instructions on how to identify binding relations in sentences and illustrate the correct examples of possible and impossible coreference relations.

Summary

Concise summary of the primary mechanism underpinning binding, agreement, and case assignment.
Feature checking is an alternative method for understanding the underlying process, where uninterpretable features are checked off by c-commanding, interpretable features.

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Description

Explore the intricacies of syntax, focusing on agreement and uninterpretable features in Chapter 5 of Pedagogical Grammar. This quiz will test your understanding of syntactic dependencies and the importance of agreement in sentences. Be prepared to analyze examples and apply these concepts effectively.