Syntax and Phrases Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is required within the head of the phrase for it to be complete?

  • A time expression
  • An adjective for description
  • A verb and its adjuncts
  • A noun denoting something concrete (correct)

    • Adjuncts are mandatory components of a clause.

    False

    What is an example of a clause?

    My mother bought a present.

    In a clause, the phrase referring to the buyer is known as the ______.

    <p>subject</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the term with its correct definition:

    <p>Complement = A necessary element in a verb phrase Adjunct = An optional element in a verb phrase Clause = A unit consisting of a verb and its complements Collocation = A regular fixed combination of words</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a collocation?

    <p>Toast bread</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrase 'in Jenners last Tuesday' is an adjunct in the clause.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are dependency relations in the context of syntax?

    <p>The relationship between heads and their modifiers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the phrase 'the large dog', which word is the head?

    <p>dog</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An adjective can be modified by the adverb 'very'.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a noun phrase?

    <p>A group of words that includes a noun and its modifiers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'Accountants audit our finances every year', the word 'Accountants' is used as a _____ noun.

    <p>plural</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following examples illustrates a controlling word relationship?

    <p>Books about antiques</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The word 'the' can precede any noun without restriction.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of modifiers in a phrase?

    <p>Modifiers provide additional information about the head word.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following words with their roles as controlling words:

    <p>Ethel = Noun that excludes articles Accountant = Noun that requires an article Sad = Adjective that allows modifiers Wooden = Adjective that excludes certain modifiers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences correctly uses a preposition?

    <p>They sat around the table.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Modifiers can be considered as optional in a sentence.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do the terms 'complement' and 'adjunct' refer to in the context of modifiers?

    <p>Complement refers to an obligatory modifier, while adjunct refers to an optional modifier.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term ________ refers to the central piece of information in a sentence.

    <p>head</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Head = The main piece of information in a phrase Modifier = Provides additional information about the head Complement = Obligatory modifier to complete meaning Adjunct = Optional modifier that adds detail</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly identifies the head in the example: 'My mother bought a present for Jeanie in Jenners last Tuesday.'?

    <p>bought</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Prepositions cannot be followed by pronouns at all.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a direct object from optional modifiers based on verb requirements?

    <p>A direct object is required by some verbs and is essential for the action, while optional modifiers provide additional details.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phrase in the example 'Barbara handed the results to Alan on Tuesday' serves as the direct object?

    <p>the results</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Transposition refers to the rearrangement of words in a clause that suggests they form a phrase.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of transposition in terms of phrase analysis?

    <p>It indicates that words can form a larger block, a phrase, when they can be moved together in a clause.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the passive construction 'Cake were given to Margaret every Friday by the pupils in this maths class', the phrase 'the pupils in this maths class' functions as a ______.

    <p>subject</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following sentences with their corresponding sentence type:

    <p>Jeeves shimmered into the room. = Active clause Into the room shimmered Jeeves. = Transposed active clause Cake were given to Margaret every Friday. = Passive clause The results Barbara handed to Alan on Tuesday. = Transposed passive clause</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the example 'The pupils in this maths class gave cake to Margaret every Friday', which role does 'cake' play?

    <p>Direct object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the clause 'Barbara handed the results to Alan', 'to Alan' is considered an adjunct.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrase 'into the room' can be transposed as _______ in the clause.

    <p>Into the room shimmered Jeeves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between heads and modifiers called?

    <p>Dependencies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In English, adjectives can only precede the nouns they modify.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of phrase modifies a noun in the example 'The house on the hilltop'?

    <p>prepositional phrase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the phrase 'The house ______ they built out of reinforced concrete', the blank should be filled with a ______.

    <p>which; relative clause</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of modifiers with their examples:

    <p>Definite article = The splendid house Adjective = The house Prepositional phrase = The house on the hilltop Relative clause = The house which they built</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In example (3a), what word is present that is absent in (3b)?

    <p>gave</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences illustrates the correct structure of a preposition followed by a noun phrase?

    <p>Jeeves shimmered into the room.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Single words can substitute for phrases in informal spoken English.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The example 'Into which room did Jeeves shimmer?' is commonly used in informal writing.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a substitution in the provided content?

    <p>Barbara handed them to Alan on Tuesday.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the phrase 'the cat trotted _____', the preposition is missing.

    <p>in</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of clause is illustrated in the example: 'The room into which Jeeves shimmered'?

    <p>relative clause</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following examples with their substitution types:

    <p>This parcel is very heavy. = Single adjective substitution Vera is crocheting in the lounge. = Location substitution This large parcel is very heavy. = Specialized substitution Barbara handed them to Alan. = Noun phrase substitution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of phrase is 'by the pupils in this maths class' classified as in example (3b)?

    <p>Prepositional phrase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrase 'the cat trotted in the kitchen' perfectly illustrates substitution principles.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term _____ refers to a part of a sentence that provides additional detail.

    <p>modifier</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of copula clause is used to link an entity to a property?

    <p>Ascriptive copula clauses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Copula clauses can be formed in a passive voice.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Latin word for 'link' or 'connection' that the term 'copula' originates from?

    <p>copula</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a locative copula clause, the verb indicates where some entity is ______.

    <p>located</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of copula clauses with their descriptions:

    <p>Ascriptive = Links an entity to a property Equative = States that one entity is equal to another Locative = Indicates the location of an entity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which construction is used to declare something as a fact?

    <p>Declarative construction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    An interrogative construction can signal that one of the participants is unknown.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of an interrogative construction from the content?

    <p>Did the wealthy young man buy that piano for his secret fiancée?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A construction that forms a word from a base with additional elements is known as a __________ construction.

    <p>morphological</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following examples with their construction types:

    <p>What did the wealthy young man buy for his secret fiancée? = Interrogative construction The wealthy young man bought that piano for his secret fiancée. = Declarative construction Did the wealthy young man buy that piano for his secret fiancée? = Interrogative construction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phrase illustrates the addition of both a prefix and a suffix?

    <p>educational</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Constructions can be isolated structures without any relationship to other constructions.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of different constructions according to the content?

    <p>To signal what speakers and writers are doing with a particular utterance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly defines a passive clause?

    <p>It starts with the participant on whom an action is carried out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a short passive construction, the agent noun phrase is always present.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are YES-NO interrogatives used for?

    <p>To ask questions that require a yes or no answer.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrase '______' is used to refer to the speaker's ability to describe who performs the action.

    <p>who</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following types of constructions with their characteristics:

    <p>Copula constructions = Contain the verb 'to be' Non-copula constructions = Have an ordinary verb Declarative constructions = Used for making statements Interrogative constructions = Used for asking questions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement about WH interrogatives is correct?

    <p>They inquire about specific details in a situation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Passive clauses always contain an explicit agent phrase.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'short passive' refer to?

    <p>A passive construction that omits the agent noun phrase.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of construction is considered the most frequent in English?

    <p>Declarative active construction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a passive construction, the subject receives the action rather than performs it.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two classes of constructions mentioned?

    <p>Declarative constructions and interrogative constructions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The type of construction that allows for the widest range of modifications is the ____________ construction.

    <p>declarative active</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the sentence type with its correct example:

    <p>Declarative active = Frank bought Jane the piano. Declarative passive = Jane was bought the piano by Frank. Interrogative active = Did Frank buy the piano for Jane? Interrogative passive = Was the piano bought for Jane by Frank?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes an oblique object construction?

    <p>Contains a subject and a noun phrase followed by a prepositional phrase.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The sentence 'Did Frank buy Jane the piano?' is an example of a double object construction.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the example 'The piano was bought for Jane by Frank', the phrase 'for Jane' functions as a __________.

    <p>prepositional phrase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a grammatical function?

    <p>Noun Phrase</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The subject of a clause refers to the Patient in the situation described.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of a subject in a clause?

    <p>Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A subject in English is usually in the ______ case.

    <p>nominative</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following grammatical functions with their definitions:

    <p>Subject = Performer of the action Direct Object = Receiver of the action Indirect Object = Recipient of the direct object Oblique Object = Additional information about the action</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which sentence does ‘all’ float from the subject noun phrase?

    <p>The dogs all barked at night.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The foxes were all hunted', 'all' is part of the oblique object.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'Masha pushed Ivan', identify the subject.

    <p>Masha</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences contains a direct object?

    <p>Martha chewed the bread.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The cup was broken by Louise', 'Louise' is the direct object.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is typically referred to by the direct object NPs in English?

    <p>Patients</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'Tatiana wrote _____ Onegin', the blank should be filled with a _____ object.

    <p>to, oblique</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the verbs with their types based on the given constructions:

    <p>TELL = Verb that often indicates an indirect object GIVE = Verb that can take two noun phrases SHOW = Verb that indicates an action involving directionality SAY = Verb commonly used in speech acts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences demonstrates the use of an oblique object?

    <p>Frank bought a piano for Jane.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The direct object noun phrase can be preceded by a preposition.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of the phrase 'to Harriet' in the sentence 'Emma gave Harriet advice'?

    <p>indirect object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In English, a direct object can be preceded by a preposition.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What grammatical role do direct object nouns typically refer to?

    <p>Patients</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'Celia gave Ben the car', 'Ben' serves as the ______ object.

    <p>indirect</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following sentences with their correct classifications:

    <p>Louise broke the cup. = Active Voice The cup was broken by Louise. = Passive Voice Emma gave Harriet advice. = Indirect Object Frank bought a piano for Jane. = Oblique Object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following verbs traditionally indicated the presence of an indirect object?

    <p>Give</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The concept of indirect object has been completely abandoned in modern grammar.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What case do direct object nouns take in languages with sets of case suffixes?

    <p>Accusative</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What grammatical function is responsible for controlling the interpretation of reflexive pronouns?

    <p>Subject</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The subject of a clause has the property of taking the accusative case.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term refers to the entity performing an action in a situation?

    <p>Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The subject in the sentence 'The dog chased the cat' is the ______.

    <p>dog</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences correctly illustrates the floating property of subjects?

    <p>Mary and John are both at the party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In English, subjects are linked with verbs only in number.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The cat caught a mouse', 'a mouse' serves as the ______.

    <p>direct object</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The thief smashed the window with a hammer', what role does 'hammer' play?

    <p>Instrument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The role of Benefactive refers to the entity that performs the action in a sentence.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used to describe the role of participants that are neutral between Agent and Patient?

    <p>Theme</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'Sue knows the answer', Sue is said to have the role of an ______.

    <p>Experiencer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following roles with their descriptions:

    <p>Goal = Denotes the endpoint of a journey Source = Indicates the starting point Benefactive = The one who benefits from an action Experiencer = The one who undergoes a psychological experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of 'baby' in a state sentence?

    <p>Neutral</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the phrase 'Imogen broke the vase', the vase is identified as the Goal.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term ______ refers to the participant role that represents an instrument used in an action.

    <p>Instrument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role is typically associated with nouns such as 'flood' as discussed in the context?

    <p>Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The term 'Comitative' refers to situations where entities are in the same place.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the presence of the preposition 'with' typically indicate in a sentence?

    <p>An Instrumental role or Comitative role.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The intense cold killed the climbers', 'cold' functions as a ______.

    <p>Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following roles with their correct definitions:

    <p>Agent = The entity performing an action Patient = The entity undergoing an action Instrument = The tool or means by which an action is performed Experiencer = The entity that feels or perceives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example shows a non-prototypical use of human beings as instruments?

    <p>Bond smashed the window with his opponent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All instances of the preposition 'with' can be analyzed the same way.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can the roles of participants affect the interpretation of sentences involving actions?

    <p>Participant roles determine who is acting, who is affected, and how they relate in an action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following defines a prototypical Agent?

    <p>A human being initiating an action of their own volition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    All Agents necessarily have volition and energy in carrying out their actions.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Provide an example of a sentence where an Agent exerts their will-power.

    <p>Captain Oates died in order to save his comrades.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A _____ is an entity that produces an effect simply by being in a certain position without initiating an action.

    <p>non-volitional Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example illustrates a non-volitional Agent?

    <p>The computer is playing six simultaneous games of chess.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following sentences with their corresponding Agent types:

    <p>Jim was chopping logs = Prototypical Agent The arch supports the weight of the tower = Non-volitional Agent The guard commanded the prisoners = Action Agent The computer is playing chess = Non-human Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Actions expressed by verbs such as 'die' and 'lie' are not considered voluntary despite being in the imperative form.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of an Experiencer in relation to Agents?

    <p>An Experiencer expresses feelings or perceptions rather than actively initiating an action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does Kingston represent in Mr. Knightley's journey?

    <p>Goal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The thief smashed the window with a hammer', what role does 'hammer' fulfill?

    <p>Instrument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following roles is associated with the phrase 'for Mrs. Smith' in the sentence 'Captain Wentworth recovered the property for Mrs. Smith'?

    <p>Benefactive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the noun phrase 'the vase' play in the example 'The vase stood on the table in the hall'?

    <p>Neutral</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of psychological experiences, which of the following terms refers to the role Susan has in the sentence 'Sue knows the answer'?

    <p>Experiencer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which verb type is identified as having the role of Experiencer in the provided examples?

    <p>Stative verbs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The role associated with an entity that reflects a psychological state in the sentence 'The answer is known to Sue' can be categorized as what?

    <p>Experiencer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role is typically signaled by the preposition 'for' in sentences?

    <p>Benefactive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentence 'The baby chewed the biscuit', what role does 'the baby' play?

    <p>Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which question can help identify the Patient in a sentence?

    <p>What happened to X?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of 'Surrey' in the sentence 'Hartfield House is in Surrey'?

    <p>Place</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences can be incorporated into a WH cleft construction?

    <p>The baby chewed the biscuit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the sentence 'The baby is heavy.' from 'The baby chewed the biscuit.'?

    <p>One describes a state while the other describes an event.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of role is represented by 'Kingston' in 'Mr. Knightley rode to Kingston.'?

    <p>Goal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a peripheral participant according to the roles discussed?

    <p>Place</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of roles, what question can help identify the Agent in a sentence?

    <p>What did X do?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best defines a prototypical Agent?

    <p>A human being who takes action voluntarily.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following examples represents an Agent that does not exhibit volition?

    <p>The arch supports the weight of the tower.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes actions like 'die' and 'lie' in the context of being Agents?

    <p>They can be expressed in imperative sentences despite not denoting actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sentence illustrates an Agent performing an action by commanding others?

    <p>The guard marched the prisoners round the yard.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can the Agent concept also apply to machines?

    <p>Machines can act independently of human influence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the presence of an adverb like 'accidentally' have on the perception of actions?

    <p>It suggests that the action was unintended.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which of the following scenarios is the Agent considered as a natural force?

    <p>The sun rays heated the ground.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do prototypical Agents play in sentence construction?

    <p>They initiate action, clarify the action's origin, and provide agency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In example (1a), what role does 'roses' play in the clause?

    <p>Patient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of role does 'garden' take in example (1b)?

    <p>Place</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sentence changes the interpretation of the direct object from the subject of the clause?

    <p>The gardener planted garden roses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the key difference in syntactic structure between examples (1a) and (1b)?

    <p>Presence of a preposition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In example (34b), what role do 'concrete blocks' fulfill in the sentence?

    <p>Instrument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which example illustrates a Comitative role in construction?

    <p>The builders built the wall with concrete blocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'Patient' refer to in the context of these clauses?

    <p>The entity that is affected by the action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which sentence structure indicates a prepositional complement in example (1a)?

    <p>Roses were planted in the garden.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the noun 'flood' typically represent in a sentence?

    <p>Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sentences provided, how is the intense cold described in scenario (8b)?

    <p>As an Agent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term Comitative imply in the provided examples with the preposition 'with'?

    <p>Indicates the involvement of a second participant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which example does 'with' indicate an Instrumental role?

    <p>Catriona opened the door with this key.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following correctly explains the difference in the role of cold in examples (8b) and (8c)?

    <p>In (8b) cold is framed as an Agent, but in (8c) it is a non-Agent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of role does 'key' serve in the phrase 'Catriona opened the door with this key'?

    <p>Instrument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context provided, how are 'roses' categorized in the sentence 'The gardener planted roses in the garden'?

    <p>As a Patient</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the use of the word 'with' in the example 'The builders made the wall with concrete blocks' signify?

    <p>An Instrument</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Heads and Modifiers

    • Syntax discussion begins with two central ideas
    • One word, the head, controls other words, the modifiers
    • A head can have multiple or no modifiers
    • Words group into phrases, often combining heads and their modifiers
    • Example: In "the large dog," "dog" is the head, and "the" and "large" are modifiers
    • Example: In "barked loudly," "barked" is the head, and "loudly" is the modifier

    Phrases

    • A phrase is a group of related words, acting as a single unit
    • Phrases can be moved around within clauses
    • Inside phrases, links exist between heads and modifiers (relationship of modification)
    • Modification is crucial for syntax and understanding word order in various languages

    Noun as Controlling Word

    • Nouns can control other words in a sentence
    • Examples demonstrate valid and invalid noun-based sentence structures: -Example: "Ethel was sitting in her desk" is valid -Example: "The Ethel was sitting in her desk" is invalid.
    • Nouns like "accountant" require supporting words (e.g., "the" or "a") to be used precisely
    • Plural nouns form a different arrangement; they don't use "the" or "a" and often contain a suffix (e.g., "-s").

    Adjectives as Controlling Words

    • Adjectives, such as "sad" or "big", can allow modifying words, such as "very"
    • Other adjectives, like "wooden", avoid modifiers such as "very" and "more"
    • Words like "sadder" and "wooden" are accepted.

    Prepositions

    • Prepositions are often followed by noun groups or single nouns
    • Few prepositions accept another preposition between them and the noun
    • Standard English prepositions typically accept pronouns but avoid "I", "he", "she", "we", and "they"; these are replaced by "me", "him", "her", "us", and "them" in a sentence.

    Heads, Modifiers, and Meaning

    • The head conveys core information
    • Modifiers clarify or expand on the core information
    • Example: "The expensive books" – "books" is the head, and "expensive" is the modifier

    Verbs and Phrases

    • Verbs have varying control over sentence structure (phrases)
    • Some verbs require a direct object, some exclude one, and others don't demand an object but allow one.

    Complements and Adjuncts

    • Modifiers are divided into complements and adjuncts
    • Complements are essential, completing a verb or noun's meaning
    • Adjuncts are additional (non-essential) contextual information, like time or place

    Clauses

    • Clauses are analytical units, vital for understanding syntax coherence
    • Phrases define relationships between parts (like heads and modifiers)
    • Clauses define relationships involving verbs and different phrases
    • A basic clause comprises an action and those involved in that action.
    • An optional time/place element can be included in a clause.

    Dictionary Entries and Collocations

    • Dictionary entries give the status of phrases (complement or adjunct)
    • English incorporates fixed verb-noun (or verb-adjective-or preposition) combinations (collocations)
    • Collocations restrict lexical items (words) used together (e.g., "toast bread," "prove useless," "blame someone")

    Verbs, Complements, and Order of Phrases

    • Heads and modifiers form dependency relationships
    • Heads control modifiers (modifiers depend on their head/s)
    • Heads and their modifiers form phrases

    Summary

    • Phrases have a head and optional modifiers
    • Clauses have a head (verb); modifiers are subdivided into essential complements or optional adjuncts
    • Adjuncts and optional additions for time, location, etc., in a phrase
    • Complement usage is frequently shown in lexical entries for verbs, prepositions and nouns

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    Related Documents

    Syntax Ch 1 PDF
    Syntax Ch 2 PDF
    Syntax Chapter 3: Constructions PDF
    Syntax Ch 8 PDF
    Syntax Ch 11 Roles PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the concepts of heads and modifiers in syntax, focusing on nouns as controlling words. You'll learn how phrases function and the relationships between heads and their modifiers. Test your understanding of these crucial aspects of sentence structure.

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