The Syntax of the English Simple Sentence
Autor: Tim • November 30, 2017 • 2,354 Words (10 Pages) • 724 Views
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(e.g.) This detective imitates Poirot. (Two arguments)
We like John. (Two arguments)
He gave the flowers to Mary. (Three arguments)
He bought the book for Mary. (Three arguments)
He is working. (One argument)
The house collapsed. (One argument)
Arguments are divided into external and internal arguments. Internal arguments are subcategorized by the verb (i.e. they are obligatory complements of the verb). External arguments are always the subject(s) of the sentence.
Adjectives and prepositions also have an argument structure. (e.g. [interested in art]AP, [between Mary and John]PP).
The specific semantic relations between a verb and its arguments are referred to in terms of theta roles. The verb theta-marks its arguments by assigning a theta role to each one. Each verb is marked in the Lexicon for a particular number of arguments.
(e.g.) The ball rolled towards him. (two arguments)
roll → [the ball]NP = ; [towards him]PP =
Theta-Criterion - each argument is assigned one and only one theta role, and each theta role is assigned to one and only one argument.
Theta roles
Theta role
Description
Example
Agent/Actor
the initiator of some action
John made a table.
Theme/Patient
entity undergoing the effect of some action
The ball rolled towards him.
Jane crumbled to the floor.
Experiencer
entity experiencing some psychological state
Students hate linguistics.
Benefactive
entity benefiting from some action
John did the job for me.
Goal
entity towards which something moves
He offered the flowers to Jane.
Instrument
means by which something comes about
He opened the door with the key.
Location
place in which something is situated or takes place
He put the book on the shelf.
Source
entity from which something moves
He came from Venice.
Types of movement in the English sentence
Constituents may move in a sentence in one of two directions: to the left (i.e. to the front/beginning of the sentence) or to the right (i.e. to the end of the sentence)
a) Movement to the left.
1. Topicalisation
a) “Flora: Do you like Belgian beer and Belgian wine?”
“Ben: [Belgian beer] I like [ _ ], but [Belgian wine] I hate [ _ ].
[pic 10][pic 11][pic 12][pic 13][pic 14][pic 15]
b) [The books about New York that she bought] nobody liked [ _ ].
[pic 16][pic 17][pic 18]
2. VP-Preposing.
Ralph says that he will clean his room and [clean his room], he will [ _ ].
[pic 19][pic 20][pic 21]
*Ralph says that he will clean his room, and [clean] he will [ _ ] his room.
[pic 22][pic 23][pic 24]
Sally said she returned my book, and [return my book] she did [ _ ].
[pic 25][pic 26][pic 27]
* Sally said she returned my book, and [returned my book] she [ _ ].
[pic 28][pic 29][pic 30]
3. Though Movement
Though students are [fare dodgers]NP, they are not thieves.
[Fare dodgers]NP though students are [ _ ], they are no thieves.
[pic 31][pic 32][pic 33]
b. Movement to the right
1. Extraposition from NP
[Six women [with yellow hats [on their head]PP]PP]NP finally appeared.
[Six women [ _ ]PP]NP appeared [with yellow hats on their heads]PP.
[pic 34][pic 35][pic 36]
*[Six women [with yellow hats]PP]NP finally appeared [on their head]PP.
*[Six women [[ _ ]PP on their head]PP]NP finally appeared [with yellow hats]PP.
2. Heavy NP Shift
We [brought [the chocolate boxes]NP]VP into the country.
*We brought into the country the chocolate boxes.
We [brought [ _ ]NP]VP into the country [six boxes of excellent French wine]NP.
[pic 37][pic 38][pic 39]
Other types of operations in the English simple sentence.
a. Substitution. Use substitution by pro-forms to prove that the italicized strings are constituents.
I believe that God is
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