Using the phrase structure rules given below,
a) CP → (C) TP
b) TP → {NP/CP} (T) VP
c) VP → (AdvP+) V (NP) ({NP/CP}) (AdvP+) (PP+) (AdvP+)
d) NP → (D) (AdjP+) N (PP+) (CP)
e) PP → P (NP)
f) AdjP → (AdvP) Adj
g) AdvP → (AdvP) Adv
h) XP → XP conj XP
i) X → X conj X
Draw a syntactic tree for this NP:
1. the pen at the back of the drawer in the desk near the bright yellow painting
(hint: every NP can have a PP after the head N, even NPs that occur inside PPs)
Draw a syntactic tree for this VP
2. sent Gregory a nasty email on Friday
(hint: sent is a ditransitive verb, meaning it takes two objects)
Draw syntactic trees these seven sentences:
3. The police might plant the drugs in the apartment.
(hint: consider might a T; plant works the same way as put - it requires 3 arguments)
4. The very young child walked from school to the store.
(hint: very and young are not the same part of speech; walked is intransitive)
5. Every cat always knows the location of her favorite catnip toy.
(hint: every is the same part of speech as the; always is an adverb)
6. Marian wonders if the package from Boston will ever arrive.
(hint: the object of wonders is a CP; will is a T; ever is an adverb)
7. Alicia danced beautifully at her quinceañera.
(hint: danced is intransitive)
8. Jaden didn't find any solace in the newspaper.
9. The parties and the candidates disappointed everyone.
(hint: consider what category is coordinated - N? NP?)
Extra credit.
Draw a tree for this sentence:
10. The belief that syntactic theory reveals the inner structure of sentences emboldened
the already much too cocky professor.
(hint: review the (whole) rule for NP)

 

 

LNGN 300 - Syntax - Fall 2023
Williams - Montclair
Part II. Analyzing another language.
Consider the following data from Bambara, a Mande language spoken in Mali. (The glosses have been slightly simplified.) Pay careful attention to the second line, where the word order of Bambara is shown. (Data from Koopman 1992.) Only use these data - do not search for other data in Bambara.
a) A kasira.
he cried
"He cried."
b) Den ye ji min
child PAST water drink
"The child drank water."
c) N sonna a ma
I agreed it to
"I agreed to it."
Then, answer these questions:
1) Do you need a T category in Bambara?
2) Do you need a D category in Bambara?
3) What is the NP rule for Bambara? (You do not need any AdjP or PPs in the rule.)
4) What is the PP rule for Bambara?
5) What is the VP rule for Bambara?
6) What is the TP rule for Bambara? (Keep in mind your answers to the above questions; be consistent.)
7) Draw trees for (a), (b), and (c) using your rules.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Drawing Syntactic Trees Sentence 1 The pen at the back of the drawer in the desk near the bright yellow painting NP N Det the pen PP PP P NP PP at PP ... View the full answer