Scribd
Upload
296 views

Project Topics

This document provides a list of topics for linguistic research projects investigating grammatical variations and patterns in English. It examines variations in word order with adjectives and nouns, subject-verb agreement patterns, the uses of already, each other and one another, constructions with the verb dare, uses of since and shall, and differences between related terms like different from/than/to, big/large, and small/little. For each topic, it outlines areas of standard prescriptive rules to investigate and compares against corpus data to study frequency, distribution and patterns of usage in different registers.

Uploaded by

ArekPamulski
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
296 views

Project Topics

This document provides a list of topics for linguistic research projects investigating grammatical variations and patterns in English. It examines variations in word order with adjectives and nouns, subject-verb agreement patterns, the uses of already, each other and one another, constructions with the verb dare, uses of since and shall, and differences between related terms like different from/than/to, big/large, and small/little. For each topic, it outlines areas of standard prescriptive rules to investigate and compares against corpus data to study frequency, distribution and patterns of usage in different registers.

Uploaded by

ArekPamulski
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Enough/too

Form A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language by Quirk et al. (1985: 420-421):
An adjective modified by enough, too or so can be separated from its complementation if the
modified adjective is placed before the indefinite (or zero) article of the noun phrase.
She is brave enough a student to attempt the course.
It was too boring a book to read.

Study this variation in word order against corpus data:


She is brave enough a student to attempt the course.
She is a brave enough student to attempt the course.
It was too boring a book to read.
It was a too boring book to read.

Word order with sequences of superlative adjective + adjective +


noun
the best person possible
the best possible person

the [superlative degree adjective] + noun + possible/imaginable/available/etc. (-able/-ible adj)


the [superlative degree adjective] + possible/imaginable/available/etc. + noun

Study the relative frequency/distribution of the two word orders.

Variation in subject/verb concord


Subject/verb concord is a very common area of variation in spoken grammar. In
particular, structures occur involving existential there in which a singular verb is
followed by a plural complement.
Thers five people there.

Also:
Wheres my slippers?

Examine the extent to which such violation of standard concord patterns is


observed in corpus data. If possible, study similar variation of subject/verb
concord.

already in front, mid or end position

There are about ten people here already.


The Commons has already agreed that there should be a referendum.
Already younger women without children are more likely than their male
counterparts to use the video recorder daily.

Are there any semantic/pragmatic differences involved in these positions? Study


the frequency of occurrence and distribution of these positions in different
registers.

Each other, one another


What are the prescriptive rules of the use of these reciprocal pronouns? Confront
them with corpus data.

The verb dare


dare
lexical verb (with do/dont)
behaves like a modal verb)

auxiliary construction (without do;

I didnt dare look around.

No, I darent tell her.

They dont dare do a thing.


complain openly.

They dared not

I didnt dare to mention John. (optional to)

Investigate the frequency/distribution of dare in both uses.

Since
3. Investigate the most important uses of since:
a) Temporal (as a preposition)
b) Causal (as a conjunction)
c) Temporal (as a conjunction)
d) Adverbial
Investigate their relative frequencies and distribution across registers.

The verb shall


Investigate the uses of shall.
1. Use grammar books, etc. to isolate them (e.g. to make offers/suggestions,
etc.). Investigate their frequency and distribution.

2. Use the most up-to-date data available to be able to make statements


about the current use of shall.
3. What is the prescribed usage with reference to expressing volition (i.e. will,
intention) and/or prediction; confront this with corpus data.

Different from/than/to
Investigate the frequency of occurrence and distribution of different from/than/to
in different registers and in Am/Br English.

Argue
Investigate the most important (collocational) uses of the verb argue. Establish
the distribution of these uses across registers.

Big, large
Investigate the most important differences in the uses of the two adjectives.

Small, little
Investigate the most important differences in the uses of the two adjectives.

You might also like