These are the seven quizzes for English 5610. Answer all questions precisely and with enough detail to allow the instructor to judge the depth of your understanding of the syntactic principles involved. Students may work together on all of the quizzes. The due date appears on each quiz.
· Quiz 1:
Subcategorizing Verbs.
· Quiz 2: Binding and
Anaphora.
· Quiz 4: Argument
Structure and Theta Theory.
As we have discussed in class, verbs can be subcategorized according to the number of complements that they take. Traditional studies of grammar have usually identified a number of categories such as transitive, intransitive, intensive, and ditransitive. However, the verb system of English is actually much more complicated. With that in mind, examine the sentences below:
Determine how many categories of verbs are
represented in the sentences above. You will have to manipulate the syntax of
each sentence to discover the answers. Remember that complements are
required by verbs, but some complements may be implicit on the surface of
sentences. In contrast, adjuncts are always optional and, therefore, may
be deleted from the surface of sentences.
HINT: Note that each verb "apparently" has a prepositional phrase
after it.
Create a table in which you list the different subcategories of verbs that you find. Next discuss the syntactic manipulations that you used to identify the different subcategories; be sure to use examples. You will be graded on the clarity and accuracy of your discussion.
Due date: September 06.
Complete the following quiz by following the instructions for each question. Feel free to work in small groups on the quiz.
Fredi
remarked that hei believed that Mary hated
himi.
Theyi
told jokes about each otheri.
*Theyi
told jokes about themi.
Theyi
told jokes about themj.
Fredi
told Mary to shoot himselfi.
James'si
sister scolded himi.
*James'si
sister scolded himselfi.
James'si
sister scolded himj.
Due date: September 22.
Complete the following quiz by following the instructions for each question. You may work in small groups and use additional sources to complete this quiz.
the man in the hat from Spain
That the scores on the test
are high indicates that the students in the class have learned the material.
the car on display in the
store
The biology instructor will answer
questions in the auditorium before the class.
The man in the Chevy drove
straight into the wall of bricks.
Due date: October 18.
Complete the following quiz by following the instructions for each question. You may work in small groups and use additional sources to complete this quiz. Make sure that all of your examples are original.
In traditional
approaches to English syntax, all of the sentences above would be labeled
transitive (each contains a mono-transitive verb). Using what you know about
theta theory demonstrate that two different types of verbs are actually
represented in the sentences. You may label them Group A and Group B. How do
the verbs seem to differ from one another in the theta roles that they assign?
Hint: try manipulating the NPs in the sentences.
Due date: November 03.
Complete the following quiz by following the instructions carefully. Feel free to work in small groups on the quiz.
Examine the following five sentences:
Due date: November 17.
Complete the following quiz by following the instructions for each prompt. You may use additional sources to complete this quiz and work with anyone in the class.
*I haven't decided whether I
to attend the conference.
John to miss his wedding
would be regrettable.
They consider reluctantly
John to be insane.
The man in the picture
discovered a vaccine for the common cold.
For Mary to think that John
is faithful is amazing.
Due date: November 29.
Complete the following quiz by following the instructions carefully. Feel free to work in small groups on the quiz.
Examine the following five sentences:
** This sentence will need several movements, and order of
movement may be important.
Due date: December 06.