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homework syntax

The document discusses whether specific sequences of words in sentences are constituents, providing explanations and tests for each case. It also addresses ambiguity in sentences by presenting two interpretations corresponding to different structures. Examples illustrate how certain phrases can be constituents or lead to multiple meanings based on their structure.

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2 views

homework syntax

The document discusses whether specific sequences of words in sentences are constituents, providing explanations and tests for each case. It also addresses ambiguity in sentences by presenting two interpretations corresponding to different structures. Examples illustrate how certain phrases can be constituents or lead to multiple meanings based on their structure.

Uploaded by

aimycb2019
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Exercise 2: Explain if the underlined sequences of words are constituent of the sentence.

If it’s not,
identify the correct constituents. Refer to the appropriate test of phrase in your explanation.

1. Maria simply gazed at the traffic light she had demolished.

No, the underlined word cannot be considered constituents of the sentence. The underlined words can
be replaced by It and but cannot be an answer for any WH questions.

2. Everyone heads for the beach in August.


No. It’s true the string can be omitteded but that’s because it consists of two separate constituents of
this sentence, both optional. Notice there’s no single question to which that string is the answer (the
beach in August answers neither What do they head for? nor *When do they head for?). Nor can it be
moved as a unit (e.g. *The beach in August is what they head for.)

3.Roy put a silencer on the gun.

No. Due to the oddity of *Simon put it and *Simon put something. And the oddity of *What did Simon
put?

4. She attacked the man with the crutch.

The underlined sequence can be moved to the front of the sentence: "The man with the crutch, she
attacked." This movement demonstrates that the entire phrase is a constituent.

5. He attacked the woman with the stick.

The underlined sequence can be moved to the front of the sentence: "The women with the stick, he
attacked." This movement demonstrates that the entire phrase is a constituent

Exercise 3: Explain the ambiguity in the sentence by giving two differerent interpretations that
correspond with two different structures.

1. We need more interesting ideas.

More modifies interesting ideas → We need a greater number of interesting ideas.

We need additional ideas that are interesting.

More interesting modifies ideas → We need ideas that are more interesting than the ones we have.

We need ideas that are of greater interest.

2. He loves good food and wine.

The ambiguity lies in whether "good" applies to both "food" and "wine" equally or only to "food."- He
loves good food, and he loves good wine- He loves good food, and he loves wine

2. She attacked the man with the crutch.

The ambiguity arises from whether the man had the crutch, or the attacker used a crutch in the attack.

-She attacked the man who had a crutch

- She attacked the man using the crutch

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