SYNTAX-8: PSR Rules (AdjP, AdvP, VP, PP, TP, CP)

Summary

This lecture delves into phrase structure rules (PSR) in syntax, covering key phrase types such as noun phrases (NP), adjective phrases (AP), adverb phrases (AdvP), prepositional phrases (PP), verb phrases (VP), complementizer phrases (CP), and tense phrases (TP). It explains the head of each phrase and their role in sentence structure, highlighting how they can be combined to form complex sentences. The lecture also addresses common errors, such as omitting complementizer phrases or misinterpreting verb phrase structures, and emphasizes the importance of strictly following syntax rules in tree diagramming.

Takeaways

• 😀 The head of a noun phrase (NP) is a noun, and the head of an adjective phrase (AP) is an adjective, with modifiers like adverbs (e.g., very) modifying adjectives.
• 😀 Adverb phrases (AdvP) consist of an obligatory adverb and an optional adverb phrase. For example, 'very quickly' is an adverb phrase with 'quickly' as the head.
• 😀 Prepositional phrases (PP) consist of an obligatory preposition followed by a noun phrase (e.g., 'in the car'). The noun phrase after the preposition is often optional, depending on the context.
• 😀 Verb phrases (VP) follow a complex structure, including optional adverb phrases, a mandatory verb, and optional noun phrases, prepositional phrases, and additional adverb phrases.
• 😀 In a verb phrase, the noun phrase may follow the verb, and the sentence structure can be more complex with prepositional phrases, adverb phrases, or complementizer phrases (CPs).
• 😀 A complementizer phrase (CP) contains a complementizer (e.g., 'that') followed by a tense phrase (TP), which includes the subject (NP) and the verb phrase (VP).
• 😀 Tense phrases (TP) are the head of sentences and can stand alone as sentences. TPs consist of an NP (subject), an optional tense (T), and a verb phrase (VP).
• 😀 Tense (T) is the head of a tense phrase, and while it is typically optional in English, other languages may have mandatory tense markers in sentences.
• 😀 Some sentences with complementizers (e.g., 'that') can't stand alone as complete sentences. For example, 'that Mary is here' cannot function alone as a sentence.
• 😀 Common mistakes in sentence structure often involve overlooking the rules for VP and CP. For instance, in 'I know John is here', a complementizer phrase (CP) should still be included even if the complementizer 'that' is omitted.

Q & A

What is the head of an adjective phrase (AdjP)?

The head of an adjective phrase is an adjective. For example, in the phrase 'very big', 'big' is the head, while 'very' is an adverb modifying 'big'.

Why is the adjective considered the head in an adjective phrase, rather than the adverb?

The adjective is considered the head because it is the most important word in the phrase. For instance, in 'very big', the primary focus is on 'big', while 'very' merely modifies it.

How does the adverb phrase (AdvP) differ from the adjective phrase (AdjP)?

The head of an adverb phrase is an adverb. For example, in 'very quickly', 'quickly' is the head, while 'very' is an adverb modifying the adverb 'quickly'.

What is the structure of a prepositional phrase (PP)?

A prepositional phrase consists of an obligatory preposition followed by a noun phrase. For example, 'in the car' consists of the preposition 'in' and the noun phrase 'the car'.

Why is the noun phrase (NP) sometimes considered optional in a prepositional phrase?

Some debate exists over whether the noun phrase is always obligatory in a prepositional phrase. For example, in sentences like 'I took out the garbage', 'out' could be seen as a preposition without an NP following it.

How is a verb phrase (VP) structured?

A verb phrase consists of an obligatory verb, which is the head, followed by optional adverb phrases, noun phrases, prepositional phrases, and additional adverb phrases.

What is the difference between a verb phrase (VP) and a complementizer phrase (CP)?

A verb phrase (VP) contains a verb as the head and may include other optional elements like noun phrases and prepositional phrases. A complementizer phrase (CP), on the other hand, consists of a complementizer (such as 'that') followed by a tense phrase (TP).

What is the role of the complementizer in a sentence?

The complementizer functions as the head of a complementizer phrase (CP). It introduces embedded clauses and links them to the main clause. For example, in 'John knows that Mary is here', 'that' is the complementizer.

What does TP stand for, and how is it structured?

TP stands for tense phrase. It consists of a noun phrase (NP) functioning as the subject, followed by an optional tense head (like a modal or auxiliary verb) and a verb phrase (VP).

What is the common mistake when analyzing sentences with a complementizer phrase (CP)?

A common mistake is omitting the complementizer ('that') when analyzing sentences like 'I know that John is here'. Even if 'that' is not pronounced, it is still necessary to include the complementizer phrase (CP) in the syntactic structure, as the verb phrase cannot give rise to a TP.