Syntax Ch 5: Adverbials and Other Matters - users.ipfw.eduusers.ipfw.edu/bischofs/ling/courses/L310/L310_syntax5_adverbials.pdf · John gave Paul the guitar. John gave the guitar

Syntax Ch 5: Adverbials and Other Matters

Dr. Shannon Bischoff

Dr. Shannon Bischoff () Syntax Ch 5: Adverbials and Other Matters 1 / 25

Outline

1 Adjunct Adverbials and the VP

2 Phrasal Verbs

3 Ellipsis

4 Sentence Adverbials


Outline

Last time. . .

Intransitive subj + VThe Hendersons will dance and sing.

(Mono)Transitive subj + V + direct objHenry The Horse dances the waltz.

Ditransitive subj + V + indirect obj + direct objJohn gave Paul the guitar.John gave the guitar to Paul.


Outline

Last time. . .

Complex Transitive subj + V + direct obj + obj-predicativeJohn and Paul found Ringo a good drummer.

Intensive subj + V + subj-predicativeA splendid time is guaranteed.

Prepositional subj + V + prepositional complementNewspaper taxis appear on the shore.


Adjunct Adverbials and the VP

Outline


2 Phrasal Verbs

3 Ellipsis




Adjunct Adverbials

Optional elements that give additional information as modifiers of a VPare referred to as adjunct adverbials. Here adverbial is afunction. . . not a lexical category. Adjunct adverbials can take the formof PPs, certain NPs, or AdvPs.



Adjunct Adverbials

Adjunct adverbials provide additional information not required by thegrammar

by the stream (PP)(a) Old Sam sunbathed frequently (AdvP)

yesterday (NP)Compare to(b) Old Sam referred to the file (PP)



Adjunct Adverbials

Adjunct adverbials like those in (a) are sister to VP or modifiers of VP.Complements like the PP in (b) are sister to V or complements of V.


yesterday (NP)Compare to

(b) Old Sam referred to the file (PP)

Draw the phrase markers for (a) and (b).



Adjunct Adverbials

Adjunct adverbials like those in (a) are sister to VP or modifiers of VP.Complements like the PP in (b) are sister to V or complements of V.


yesterday (NP)Compare to

(b) Old Sam referred to the file (PP)

Draw the phrase markers for (a) and (b).



Adjunct Adverbials

Proforms can be used to determine if a phrase is an adjunct orcomplement. Proforms stand in for, or replace, material that has alreadyappeared in a sentence or discourse.

did/do so (stand in for a V)

pronouns (stand in for an NP)



Adjunct Adverbials

We can use the proform test to identify adjuncts and complements in thefollowing examples.

(a) Schumacher fixed his car in the garage.

(b) Vetal put his car in the garage.



Adjunct Adverbials

We can use the proform test to identify adjuncts and complements in thefollowing examples.

(a1) Schumacher fixed his car in the garage.

(a2) Schumacher fixed his car in the garage and Vetal did so in the yard.

(a3) Schumacher fixed his car in the garage and Vetal did so (too).

(b1) Vetal put his car in the garage.

(b2) *Vetal put his car in the garage and Schumacher did so in the yard.

(b3) Vetal put his car in the garage and Schumacher did so (too).



Adjunct Adverbials

So. . . we can use the proform test to identify adjuncts of VP (a1), andcomplements of V (b1).

(a1) Schumacher fixed his car in the garage.

(b1) Vetal put his car in the garage.



Adjunct Adverbials

There is a small problem for this type of analysis however. . .

1 She put it under the bed.

2 Surreptitiously, she put it under the bed.

3 She surreptitiously put it under the bed.

4 She put it surreptitiously under the bed.

5 She put it under the bed surreptitiously.

What is the problem?



Adjunct Adverbials

There is a small problem for this type of analysis however. . .

1 She put it under the bed.

2 Surreptitiously, she put it under the bed.

3 She surreptitiously put it under the bed.

4 She put it surreptitiously under the bed.

5 She put it under the bed surreptitiously.

What is the problem?


Phrasal Verbs

Outline


2 Phrasal Verbs

3 Ellipsis



Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs

Some verbs seem to be complex in that they include a particle.In Englishparticles look suspiciously similar to prepositions. Compare the following.

1 He called up the street. (verb+PP)

2 She called up the boss. (verb+particle)


Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs

Verb groups that include a verb+particle are referred to as phrasal verbs.There are a number of phrasal verbs in English.

1 She looked up the phone number.

2 She put down the phone.

3 She handed over the chocolate.


Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs

A test to distinguish between phrasal verbs and verbs followed by a PP isparticle movement. Compare the following.

1 She looked up the phone number.

2 She looked the phone number up.

3 She called up the boss.

4 She called the boss up.

5 He called up the street.

6 *He called the street up.

Particles can be moved to the other side of the object NP.


Ellipsis

Outline


2 Phrasal Verbs

3 Ellipsis



Ellipsis

Ellipsis

In normal discourse any thing can be omitted from a sentence provided itis understood. In contrast, in academic writing and grammatical speech,no element may be omitted that seems to be required by the grammar.Consider the following.

1 Elvis gave the watch to Robert.

2 Elvis gave Robert the watch.

3 Elvis gave the watch.

4 gave the watch

5 Elvis

Is give ditransitive and transitive both?


Ellipsis

Ellipsis

In normal discourse any thing can be omitted from a sentence provided itis understood. In contrast, in academic writing and grammatical speech,no element may be omitted that seems to be required by the grammar.Consider the following.




4 gave the watch

5 Elvis

Is give ditransitive and transitive both?


Ellipsis

Ellipsis

(3) in the previous slide is acceptable given the right context. . . but it isnot grammatical. This is a pedagogical and theoreticaldistinction. . . syntax as construed by the author and others, but not allsyntacticians, is concerned with the forms of sentences, withouttaking into account the effects of uttering sentences in a context.So how do we treat (3)?

Elvis gave the watch.


Ellipsis

Ellipsis

Let’s draw the trees for the following:





Ellipsis

Ellipsis

What about the other examples the text provides: eat and play

1 Max played the tube in the street. (transitive)

2 Max played in the street. (intransitive)

3 I ate a sandwhich. (transitive)

4 I ate. (???)

Burton-Roberts argues there are two “plays” (one transitive and oneintransitive) but there is only one “eat”. I disagree: “consume food” and“have a meal”.


Ellipsis

Ellipsis

What about the other examples the text provides: eat and play

1 Max played the tube in the street. (transitive)

2 Max played in the street. (intransitive)

3 I ate a sandwhich. (transitive)

4 I ate. (???)

Burton-Roberts argues there are two “plays” (one transitive and oneintransitive) but there is only one “eat”. I disagree: “consume food” and“have a meal”.


Sentence Adverbials

Outline


2 Phrasal Verbs

3 Ellipsis



Sentence Adverbials

Sentence adverbials

Earlier we saw adjunct or VP-adverbials. What is the difference inbetween the following pairs.

1a Buster admitted everything frankly.

1b Buster admitted everything, frankly.

2a Mildred interfered between you and me.

2b Mildred interfered, between you and me.

The (b) examples are sentence adverbials modifying S. Let’s draw thetrees.


Sentence Adverbials

Sentence adverbials

Earlier we saw adjunct or VP-adverbials. What is the difference inbetween the following pairs.

1a Buster admitted everything frankly.

1b Buster admitted everything, frankly.

2a Mildred interfered between you and me.

2b Mildred interfered, between you and me.

The (b) examples are sentence adverbials modifying S. Let’s draw thetrees.


Sentence Adverbials

Next time. . .

Homework: Exercises: 1-5, Further exercises 1. Set 1 1-5, Set 2 1-5, Set 31-4.


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Syntax Ch 5: Adverbials and Other Matters - users.ipfw.eduusers.ipfw.edu/bischofs/ling/courses/L310/L310_syntax5_adverbials.pdf · John gave Paul the guitar. John gave the guitar