Syntax Assignment:

Model Answers
Jean Mark Gawron

Linguistics
San Diego State University
gawron@mail.sdsu.edu
http://www.rohan.sdsu.edu/gawron

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 1/20

1. A jogger ran toward the end of the lane
Det N V P Det N P Det N

2. These tall trees are blocking the road

Det Adj N Aux V Det N
3.
Jeremy will play the trumpet and the drums in he orchestra
N Aux V Det N Conj Det N P Det N

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 2/20

 Prepositions

Prepositions about, above, across, after, against, along, among, around, at,
before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by,
despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, into, like,
near, of, off, on, onto, out, outside, over, past, since, through,
throughout, till, to, toward, under, underneath, until, up, upon,
with, within, without
Where is X? above, across, against, along, among, around, at, behind, be- L
low, beneath, beside, between, beyond, by, down, in, inside,
into, near, off, on, out, outside, over, past, through, throughout,
under, underneath, up, upon
Where is X headed? to, into, toward
Where is X coming from ? from
When is X? after, before, by, during, since, until, till T
Others (Common) about, with, of

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 3/20

 Auxiliary

will, should, can, must, may, might, shall, would, do, have, be

Yes-no question test:

John has left.
Has John left? Has is an Aux
John made Mary leave
* Made John Mary leave? Made is not an Aux
John left.
Did John leave? Did is an Aux

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 4/20

 Ex. 3

Head and specifier

NP NP VP
H
 H H
 H H
 H
Det N Det N Adv V

the N this N always V

zoo house try

AP AP VP
HH H
 H HH
Deg A Deg A Adv V

very A so A perhaps V

competent witty pass

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 5/20

 Ex. 2, ctd.

Head and specifier]

VP AP NP
HH H
 H HH
Adv V Deg A Det N

never V less A those N

surrender bleak books

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 6/20

 Ex. 4: Head, complement, specifier
PP VP

P V
HH H
 HH
P NP V NP
H
 H HH
into Det N fixed Det N

the house the N

telephone

AP PP
HH
A  H
Deg P
HH H
A PP  HH
more P NP
full P HH
toward Det N
HH
P NP
the window
of N

mistakes Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 7/20

 Ex. 4: Head, complement, specifier

NP
H
 HH
Det N
H
 HH
a N PP

film P
HH
P NP

about N

pollution

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 8/20

 Ex. 4: Head, complement, specifier

Specifier attaches high. Complement attaches low.

VP
HH
 H
Adv V
H
 HH
always V NP
HH
study Det N

this material

Head of the phrase

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 9/20

 Ex. 5
IP
H
 HH
 H
NP I
HH HH
Det N I VP

Those guests should V

leave
IP
HH
 H
NP I
H
N
 HH
I VP
H
Maria  HH
+Pst Adv V
HH
never V NP
HH
ate Det N

a brownie

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 10/20

 IP

HHH
H
Ex. 5
NP I
HH H
 HH
Det N I VP

The student
HH
+Pst V NP
HH
lost Det N

the debate
IP
H
HH
  H
NP I
H
HH
  H
N
I VP
Mariane
HH
could  H
V AP
H
 HH
become Deg A
HH
quite A PP
H
 H
fond P NP

of N

Larry
Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 11/20
 Mistakes I

Wrong Right

NP AP

N A
H HH
 HH
PP N Adj PP
H
 H
Deg P mistakes full P
HH
full of P NP

of N

mistakes
1. Part of speech full: Adjective
PP
HH
P NP

of N
2. P N Prep complement: NP
mistakes
of mistakes
Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 12/20
 Modifier Principles

Modifier Head Position Pattern

Adverb Verb never Specifier
VP
H
smile Adverb
 H
V

Deg Adj right Specifier

AP PP
H H
 H
Prep under the table 
Deg
H
Adj Deg P

Adj P

Det N the Specifier

NP
H

book Det N

PP N or V the book Complement

NP VP

on the table HH

Det N V
H H
N PP V PP

Adj N red Specifier

NP
H
book Adj N

N
Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 13/20
 Mistakes II

Wrong Right

IP IP
H HH
 HH  H
 H
NP VP NP VP
HH HH
N Adv V NP N V
H
HH  HH
Maria never ate Det N Maria Adv HH
V NP
a brownie never HH
ate Det N

a brownie

1. Every phrase has a head: IP (I, I)

2. Adverbs never EVER modify Nouns
3. When in doubt, draw BOTH trees. Looking at them decide
which one is a better fit with the principles of tree-drawing.

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 14/20

 Mistakes III: Heads

Wrong Right

S VP
H H
 HH  HH
V NP V NP
HH HH
fixed Det N fixed Det N

the telephone the telephone

S AP
HH HH
Adj PP Adj PP
HH HH
full P NP full P NP

of N of N

mistakes mistakes

8
< V is a VP
A phrase headed by a
: an Adj is an AP
Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 15/20
 Mistakes IV
Wrong Right

VP VP
HH HH
 H  H
V NP Adv V
H
HH HH  HH
Adv V Det N always V NP
HH
always study this material study Det N

this material

S NP
HH
 H N
N VP H
H
 H HH  HH
Det N V NP Det N
H
 HH
a film about N a N PP
HH
pollution film P NP

about N

pollution
Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 16/20
 Errors

1. Specifiers attach HIGH; complements low.

2. about is a preposition, not a verb

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 17/20

 Complete sentences

A film about pollution: Is it a sentence?

1. This is NOT a sentence (Yes/no question test):
* Does a film about pollution?
* About a film pollution?
Is the film about pollution? [Must add be to MAKE it a sentence]
Other examples:
That John left * Did that John leave?
* Did that John left?
For John to leave now * To for John leave now?
* Did John to leave now?
Because John left * Did because John leave?
John left Did John leave?

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 18/20

 Tree vocab I
Sentence
IP IP
H H
 HH  H
NP I NP I
H
 H H
 H
I VP I VP

+Pst V Aux V

Prepositional phrase
PP
H
P NP

Noun phrase
NP NP
H HH
Det N Det N
H
N PP

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 19/20

 Tree Vocab II
Adjective Phrase
AP AP
H H
 H
Deg A Deg A

PP

Verb Phrase
VP VP
H HH
Adv V Adv V
H
V NP

Syntax Assignment:Model Answers p. 20/20