Scribd
Upload
1K views

English Syntax

The document describes the basic structure of phrases in X-bar theory, including noun phrases (NP), determiner phrases (DP), prepositional phrases (PP), adjective phrases (AdjP), and adverb phrases (AdvP). It provides examples of phrases with different syntactic configurations, such as phrases with only a specifier, only a complement, or both a specifier and complement. For each example, it draws the full tree structure and identifies the syntactic categories and functions of the constituents.

Uploaded by

GetoarSu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views

English Syntax

The document describes the basic structure of phrases in X-bar theory, including noun phrases (NP), determiner phrases (DP), prepositional phrases (PP), adjective phrases (AdjP), and adverb phrases (AdvP). It provides examples of phrases with different syntactic configurations, such as phrases with only a specifier, only a complement, or both a specifier and complement. For each example, it draws the full tree structure and identifies the syntactic categories and functions of the constituents.

Uploaded by

GetoarSu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Extra

Syntax Exercises 1
Structure of XP: NP, DP, PP, AdjP, and AdvP.
Complements and Adjuncts.

Ken Ramshj Christensen


Aarhus University
2014
1

The building blocks of X-bar structure


The bare
minimum

XP with
specier only

XP with
complement only

A full XP with both


specier and complement

ALWAYS
PROJECTED

XP with a leP/right
adjoined modier

Draw the full tree structure of the


following phrases:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)

This
(I found) the hammer
(He likes) old cars
The center of the universe
From out of the dark
Extremely ill
The girl from Russias eyes
Pictures of Alice
(This is) Jacks
(He) never liked boring books
(She will) actually be sleeping in the park
3

ANSWERS
Trees drawn using Miles Shangs Syntax Tree Generator (h`p://mshang.ca/syntree/)
Addiaonal text, gures, lines and arrows added in Microso1 PowerPoint
4

(1)

As a bare minimum,
ALL phrases contain all
three levels of the X-
bar structure.

Phrase/XP-level
Bar-levels
Head/X-level

(2)

Complement of D
The denite
aracle the is a
determiner, D.

(3)
Adjuncaon to an NP
projects another
instance of that NP.

The indenite
plural aracle is a
zero-determiner,
an empty D.

Modier leP-
adjoined to NP
Complement of D

(4)

Of is a
preposiIon, a P,
introducing a DP.
Complement of P

Complement of N
8

(5)
PreposiIon, P,
withan AdvP
complement.

Adverb, Adv,
with a PP
complement.

PreposiIon, P,
with a DP
complement.

(6)
Adjuncaon to an AdjP
projects another
instance of that AdjP.

Modier leP-
adjoined to AdjP

10

(7)
Adjuncaon to
an NP
projects
another
instance of
that NP.

Complement of geniave s in D
POSSESSED

GeniIve s is the
head of a DP.

Modier right-
adjoined to NP
Specier of geniave s in D
POSSESSOR

11

(8)

The indenite
plural aracle is a
zero-determiner,
an empty D.

In proper names,
D is (usually) a
zero-determiner,
an empty D.

Complement of P

Complement of N
12

(9)

GeniIve s is the
head of a DP.
In proper names,
D is (usually) a
zero-determiner,
an empty D.

Specier of geniave s in D
POSSESSOR

13

Adjuncaon to a VP
projects another
instance of that VP.

(10)

Adjuncaon to an NP
projects another
instance of that NP.
Modier leP-
adjoined to VP

Modier leP-
adjoined to NP
The indenite plural aracle is a
zero-determiner, an empty D.
Object: DP sister of V
14

(11)

Adjuncaon to a VP
projects another
instance of that VP.

Modier leP-
adjoined to VP

Modier right-
adjoined to VP
15

You might also like