SYNTAX-7: PSR Rules (The Noun Phrase NP)

Summary

This lecture introduces the structure of noun phrases (NP) in syntax, focusing on phrase structure rules (PSR). It explains the essential components of a noun phrase, including the obligatory noun (the head), and the optional elements like determiners, adjectives, prepositional phrases (PP), and complementizer phrases (CP). The lecture covers the rules for ordering these components, such as determiners preceding adjectives and the possibility of repeating prepositional phrases. The session also highlights the hierarchical structure of noun phrases and concludes with examples to illustrate how these rules are applied in sentence construction.

Takeaways

• 😀 A noun phrase (NP) is centered around a noun, which is the only obligatory component.
• 😀 Determiners (e.g., 'the', 'a') are optional but can modify the noun and must precede adjectives.
• 😀 Noun phrases can include multiple optional adjectives, which must also precede the noun and determiner.
• 😀 Prepositional phrases (PP), such as 'of poems', can follow the noun and are optional; multiple PPs can be used in a single noun phrase.
• 😀 Complementizer phrases (CP), such as 'that' or 'which', can follow the noun phrase but cannot be repeated.
• 😀 The phrase structure rule (PSR) for a noun phrase is: NP → (Det) (AdjP) (AdjP) (PP) (PP) (CP).
• 😀 A noun phrase must contain at least a noun, which is considered the 'head' of the phrase.
• 😀 The order of components in a noun phrase is fixed: determiners precede adjectives, and adjectives precede the noun.
• 😀 A noun phrase can consist of just the noun, making it the simplest form of NP.
• 😀 Determiners are limited to one per noun phrase; repeating them (e.g., 'the a man') is not allowed.
• 😀 In a noun phrase, adjectives can describe the noun semantically, with phrases like 'big red apples' being possible, but 'red big apples' would be incorrect.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the lecture?

The primary focus of the lecture is on Phrase Structure Rules (PSR), specifically the structure and components of Noun Phrases (NP).

What is a noun phrase (NP)?

A noun phrase (NP) is a syntactic structure centered around a head noun. It may include other elements like determiners, adjectives, and prepositional phrases, but the noun itself is the obligatory part of the phrase.

What is the head of a noun phrase?

The head of a noun phrase is the noun itself, which is the core element around which the phrase is structured.

What are the optional components of a noun phrase?

The optional components of a noun phrase include determiners, adjectives, prepositional phrases, and complementizer phrases (CPs).

Why is the noun considered obligatory in a noun phrase?

The noun is considered obligatory because a noun phrase cannot exist without a noun. Other elements, like determiners or adjectives, are optional and can be omitted.

Can determiners be repeated in a noun phrase?

No, determiners cannot be repeated in a noun phrase. You can only have one determiner, such as 'the man' or 'a man'.

What is the correct order of elements in a noun phrase?

The correct order in a noun phrase is: determiner (optional) → adjectives (optional) → noun (obligatory) → prepositional phrases (optional) → complementizer phrase (optional).

Can adjectives follow the noun in a noun phrase?

No, adjectives must precede the noun in a noun phrase. The correct order is: determiner → adjectives → noun, not the other way around.

What is a prepositional phrase and how does it function in a noun phrase?

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition followed by a noun phrase. It can function as an optional component of a noun phrase, providing additional details like location or possession (e.g., 'the book on the table').

Can complementizer phrases (CP) be repeated in a noun phrase?

No, complementizer phrases cannot be repeated in a noun phrase. For example, 'the book that I like, that John gave me' sounds incorrect due to the repetition of the CP.

How is the phrase structure rule (PSR) for a noun phrase represented?

The phrase structure rule (PSR) for a noun phrase is represented as: NP → (D) (A+) (N) (PP+) (CP), where D is the optional determiner, A+ represents optional adjectives, N is the obligatory noun, PP+ represents optional prepositional phrases, and CP is the optional complementizer phrase.