supplementary exercises for Chapter 4

Chapter 4：Syntax

I. Decide whether each of the following statements is True or False: 1. Syntax is a subfield of linguistics that studies the sentence structure of language, including the combination of morphemes into words. F 2. Grammatical sentences are formed following a set of syntactic rules. T 3. Sentences are composed of sequence of words arranged in a simple linear order, with one adding onto another following a simple arithmetic logic. F

4. Universally found in the grammars of all human languages, syntactic rules that comprise the system of internalized linguistic knowledge of a language speaker are known as linguistic competence. T 5. The syntactic rules of any language are finite in number, but there is no limit to the number of sentences native speakers of that language are able to produce and comprehend. T

6. In a complex sentence, the two clauses hold unequal status, one subordinating the other. T

7. Constituents that can be substituted for one another without loss of grammaticality belong to the same syntactic category. T 8. Minor lexical categories are open because these categories are not fixed and new members are allowed for. F

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9. In English syntactic analysis, four phrasal categories are commonly recognized and discussed, namely, noun phrase, verb phrase, infinitive phrase, and auxiliary phrase. F

10. In English the subject usually precedes the verb and the direct object usually follows the verb. T

11. What is actually internalized in the mind of a native speaker is a complete list of words and phrases rather than grammatical knowledge. F 12. A noun phrase must contain a noun, but other elements are optional.T 13. It is believed that phrase structure rules, with the insertion of the lexicon, generate sentences at the level of D-structure. T 14. WH-movement is obligatory in English which changes a sentence from affirmative to interrogative. T

II. Fill in each of the following blanks with one word which begins with the letter given:

15. A simple sentence consists of a single clause which contains a subject and a predicate and stands alone as its own sentence.

16. A sentence is a structurally independent unit that usually comprises a number of words to form a complete statement, question or command. 17. A subject may be a noun or a noun phrase in a sentence that usually precedes the predicate.

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18. The part of a sentence which comprises a finite verb or a verb phrase and which says something about the subject is grammatically called predicate. 19. A complex sentence contains two, or more, clauses, one of which is incorporated into the other.

20. In the complex sentence, the incorporated or subordinate clause is normally called an embedded clause. 21. Major lexical categories are open categories in the sense that new words are constantly added.

22. That component that precedes the head of a phrase is termed as s_________ in syntax.

23. There is no limit to the number of c___________ categories that can appear prior to a conjunction.

III. There are four given choices for each statement below. Mark the choice that can best complete the statement:

24. A sentence is considered __D__ when it does not conform to the grammatical knowledge in the mind of native speakers.

A. right B. wrong C. grammatical D. ungrammatical 25. Phrase structure rules have _A___ properties.

A. recursive B. grammatical C. social D. functional 26. Phrase structure rules allow us to better understand D A. how words and phrases form sentences.

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B. what constitutes the grammaticality of strings of words C. how people produce and recognize possible sentences D. All of the above.

27. Syntactic movement is dictated by rules traditionally called _____A___.

A. transformational rules B. generative rules C. phrase structure rules D. x-bar theory 28. The sentence structure is ____D____. A. only linear B. Only hierarchical

C. complex D. both linear and hierarchical 29. The syntactic rules of any language are __C__ in number. A. large B. small C. finite D. infinite

30. The ___D_____ rules are the rules that group words and phrases to form grammatical sentences.

A. lexical B. morphological C. linguistic D. combinational 31.___B____ rules may change the syntactic representation of a sentence. A. Generative B. Transformational C. X-bar D. Phrase structure IV. Define the following terms:

32. syntax: Syntax is a subfield of linguistics. It studies the sentence structure of language. It consists of a set of abstract rules that allow words to be combined with other words to form grammatical sentences.

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33. Sentence: A sentence is a structurally independent unit that usually comprises a number of words to form a complete statement, question or command. Normally, a sentence consists of at least a subject and a predicate which contains a finite verb or a verb phrase.

34. syntactic categories: Apart from sentences and clauses, a syntactic category usually refers to a word (called a lexical category) or a phrase ( called a phrasal category) that performs a particular grammatical function.

35. subcategorization:

36. transformational rules:

37. D-structure:

V. Answer the following questions:

38. What syntactic mechanisms are involved in deriving a surface structure from a deep structure?

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39. What is a coordinate structure and what properties does it have? ……..A coordinate sentence contains two clauses joined by a linking word that is called coordinating conjunction, such as \For example:

John is reading a linguistic book, and Mary is preparing for her history exam.

40. Draw a tree diagram for each of the following sentences so as to reveal their internal structures: 1) Will you tell me what this is about?

2) Scar and his hyena allies execute a sly plan which hurt Simba deeply. 3) I’m afraid that I don’t really know you. 4) I made the mistake of being honest with you. 5) She was looking indifferently at the passing cars.

6) The wonderful thing about living is that this sort of thing can happen. 7) He asked me if I was expecting the visitor that came from the countryside.

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39. What is a coordinate structure and what properties does it have? ……..A coordinate sentence contains two clauses joined by a linking word that is called coordinating conjunction, such as \For example:

John is reading a linguistic book, and Mary is preparing for her history exam.

40. Draw a tree diagram for each of the following sentences so as to reveal their internal structures: 1) Will you tell me what this is about?

2) Scar and his hyena allies execute a sly plan which hurt Simba deeply. 3) I’m afraid that I don’t really know you. 4) I made the mistake of being honest with you. 5) She was looking indifferently at the passing cars.

6) The wonderful thing about living is that this sort of thing can happen. 7) He asked me if I was expecting the visitor that came from the countryside.

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