Homework $4.$ Syntax, Constituents and Phrase Structure

$1.$ Using one or more of the constituency tests $($i$.$e$.,$ stand alone, move as a unit, replacement by a pronoun$)$ discussed in the chapter, determine which of the boldfaced portions in the sentences are constituents $($and which are not$).$ Provide the grammatical category of the constituents.

a$.$ Martha found a lovely pillow for the couch.

b$.$ The light in this room is terrible.

c$.$ I wonder whether Bonnie has finished packing her books. d$.$ Melissa slept in her class.

e$.$ Pete and Max are fighting over the bone.

f$.$ I gave a bone to Pete and to Max yesterday.

g$.$ I gave a bone to Pete and to Max yesterday.

$2.$ Each of the following sentences or phrases are ambiguous. For each item $($a$-$c$)$ state at least two readings $($i$.$e$.$ meanings$).$ Then draw brackets showing how words group together to create each of the two meanings.

a$.$ sleepy men and boys

b the old women$$s shoes

c$.$ You can enjoy a gourmet meal in your sweat pants.

$3.$ Use the following phrase structure rules to diagram the sentences below. Note: do not worry about representing verb tense in your diagrams.

S $$ NP VP NP $$ Det N VP $$ V NP VP $$ V

VP $$ V PP VP $$ V CP PP $$ P NP CP $$ C S

a$.$ A girl ran.

b$.$ The woman threw the shoe.

c$.$ Jack strolled over the hill.

d$.$ The police thought that the prisoner swam across the lake.

$4.$ In the phrase structure rules shown above the rules VP $$ V CP in combination with the rule CP $$ C S and S $$ NP VP form a recursive set.

a$.$ Why are rules like this important in a grammar i$.$e$.$ what do they permit a grammar to do$?$

b$.$ Write a novel sentence that demonstrates such recursion. $($Note: you do not need to diagram the sentence$).$

$5.$ Using the phrase structure grammar below and the lexical items listed and determine which sentences are ungrammatical in this made$-$up language. Mark all ungrammatical sentences with a $*.$ In these phrase structure rules optional constituent elements are shown in parentheses, for example $($Adv$).$ These are limited to one instance of the constituent.

S$($NP$)$ VP NP NP$($Det$)($Adj$)$ N $($PP$)$ VP$$V $($Adv$)($NP$)$A gril PP$($Adj$)$ Prep. NP

Nouns $=$ rabon, lillock, kazer, sohm Verbs $=$ sment, wolling, fest, lary Det$=$ op$,$ lep

Preposition $=$ ti$,$ sop

Adj $=$ wesly, moyest Adv $=$ balum, gek

a$.$ Sment lep rabon

b$.$ Op moyest lillock fest

c$.$ Moyest ti sohm

d$.$ Wolling kazer

e$.$ Lary sment gek ti

f$.$ Lep wesly rabon sment balum op moyest sohm g$.$ Sohm ti moyest rabon wolling gek sop wesly

h$.$ Lillock sop kazer

i$.$ Lary sohm