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Basic Rules On Syntax

The document discusses basic rules of syntax, including that a sentence must contain a noun phrase and verb phrase. It explains phrase structure rules that determine the order of words in a phrase to ensure correct grammar. Noun phrases and prepositional phrases are defined, along with examples of phrase structure trees showing the structure of sentences and how structural ambiguity can lead to multiple meanings.

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Ella Almodovar
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© © All Rights Reserved
215 views

Basic Rules On Syntax

The document discusses basic rules of syntax, including that a sentence must contain a noun phrase and verb phrase. It explains phrase structure rules that determine the order of words in a phrase to ensure correct grammar. Noun phrases and prepositional phrases are defined, along with examples of phrase structure trees showing the structure of sentences and how structural ambiguity can lead to multiple meanings.

Uploaded by

Ella Almodovar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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BASIC RULES ON SYNTAX

SENTENCES

- Must contain a noun phrase and a verb phrase


- May contain an auxiliary verb

PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES- determines the order of words or constituents in a phrase to ensure
correct grammar and thought in a sentence.

NOUN PHRASE

Noun Phrase Noun Phrase Noun Phrase

Determiner Noun Determiner Adjective Noun Adjective Noun

Noun Phrase

Noun

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Prepositional Phrase

Preposition Noun Phrase

VERB PHRASE

Verb Phrase Verb Phrase

Verb Noun Phrase Verb Adverb

Noun Phrase Prepositional Phrase

PHRASE STRUCTURE TREES EXAMPLES

The runner with the shortest time won the race


SENTENCE

Noun Phrase Verb Phrase

Verb Noun Phrase

Determiner Noun Prepositional


Phrase
Determiner Noun

Preposition Noun
Phrase

Determiner Adjective Noun

The runner with the shortest time won the race

STRUCTURAL AMBIGUITY
- Sentences that imply different meanings

Lexically Ambiguous
- Due to multiple meaning of word/s used in a sentence
Structurally Ambiguous
- Due to the sentence structure in the syntax tree

The spy saw the cop with the binoculars

Interpretation 1: The spy used binoculars to see the cop

NP VP

Det N V NP

NP PP

Det N P NP

Det N

The spy saw the cop with the binoculars

Interpretation 2: The cop has binoculars


S

NP VP

Det N V NP

NP PP

Det N P Det N

The spy saw the cop with the binoculars

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