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Quizzes for English 515

These are the seven quizzes for English 515. 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: Subcategoring Verbs.
  • Quiz 2: Binding and Anaphora.
  • Quiz 3: Phrase Structure.
  • Quiz 4: Argument Structure and Theta Theory.
  • Quiz 5: NP Movement.
  • Quiz 6: Case.
  • Quiz 7: Wh Movement.

    Quiz 1:
    Subcategorizing Verbs

    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:

    1. The students abided by the instructor's wishes.
    2. The patient died in his sleep.
    3. The man took out the trash.
    4. The drunk stumbled on the stairs.
    5. The children put on their sweaters.
    6. The woman fainted during childbirth.
    7. Some people still listen to the radio.
    8. The senator spoke to the demonstrators.
    9. The tired jogger took off her shoes.
    10. The ball rolled off the piano.

    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 24.

    Quiz 2:
    Binding and Anaphora

    Complete the following quiz by following the instructions for each question. Feel free to work in small groups on the quiz.

    1. Examine the following sentence:

      Fredi remarked that hei believed that Mary hated himi.

      • Draw a phrase structure tree for the sentence above.
      • Explain why the two pronouns are not expressed as relexives even though they are both coindexed with Fred.

    2. Examine the following three sentences:

      Theyi told jokes about each otheri.
      *Theyi told jokes about themi.
      Theyi told jokes about themj.

      • Draw a phrase structure tree for the second sentence above and explain why it is ungrammatical.

    3. Examine the following sentence:

      Fredi told Mary to shoot himselfi.

      • Explain why the sentence above is ungrammatical. Do not draw a tree for the sentence.

    4. Examine the following three sentences:

      James'si sister scolded himi.

      *James'si sister scolded himselfi.

      James'si sister scolded himj.

      • Draw a phrase structure tree for the sentences above and explain why it is ungrammatical.

    Due date: October 01.

    Quiz 3:
    Phrase Structure

    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.

    1. The following NP is ambiguous:

      the man in the hat from Spain

      • Write two paraphrases for the NP above.

      • Create two phrase structure trees for the NP above that reveal the two different meanings in the original NP, not the paraphrases.

    2. Construct tree diagrams for the following sentence:

      That the scores on the test are high indicates that the students in the class have learned the material.

    3. Construct a tree diagram for the following NP:

      the car on display in the store

      • Determine how many N-bars are in the phrase.
      • Write a question for each N-bar and answer it with the N-bar being questioned.
    4. Examine the following sentence.

      The biology instructor will answer questions in the auditorium before the class.

      • Determine how many V-bars are in the phrase.
      • Construct contrastive sentences using the pro-V-bar, do so, to clearly indicate the number of V-bars that you found.

    5. Construct a phrase structure tree for the sentence below:

      The man in the Chevy drove straight into the wall of bricks.

    Due date: October 15.

    Quiz 4:
    Argument Structure and Theta Theory.

    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.

    1. Examine the 8 sentences below:
      • Mary hit Walter.
      • Mary met Walter.
      • John kissed Mary.
      • Mary threatened Gertude.
      • Fred kicked George.
      • Fred fought George.
      • Sam married Rachel.
      • Rachael killed Sam.

      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.

    2. Describe the argument structure of the verbs below. That is, how many arguments must each verb minimally have in the lexicon.
      Warning: remember that some verbs need arguments other than noun phrases.

      • place
      • please
      • like
      • inspect
      • present
      • faint

    3. Construct sentences with the six verbs above and identify the theta roles of each argument. Do any of your sentences have implicit arguments?

    4. Thematically what is the difference between give and receive? Construct a sentence for each and mark the theta roles of the arguments.

    5. Provide at least three justifications for the validity of theta theory. Be sure to use original examples.

    Due date: October 29.

    Quiz 5:
    NP Movement

    Complete the following quiz by following the instructions carefully. Feel free to work in small groups on the quiz.

    Examine the following five sentences:

    1. The cake seems to be burned.
    2. The examinations have been returned.
    3. Tom is likely to be fired.
    4. The article appears to be difficult.
    5. Employees are expected to write weekly reports.

      • Construct trees for any three of the sentences above.
      • Show the movement of the NP by inserting traces on the trees.
      • Explain what prompted the movements.

    Due date: November 05.

    Quiz 6:
    Case

    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.

    1. Examine the following sentence.

      *I haven't decided whether I to attend the conference.

      • Draw a phrase structure tree for the ungrammatical sentence above.
      • Explain why it is ungrammatical.
      • Hint: think of 'I' as an overt NP.

    2. The predicate is likely is a raising structure as in "John is likely to win the award".

      • Think of two other copula + adjective predicates that are raising structures.

      • Create one sentence for each verb and draw a phrase structure tree for each.

    3. Explain why the following sentences are ungrammatical:

      John to miss his wedding would be regrettable.

      They consider reluctantly John to be insane.

    4. Draw a tree for each of the two sentences below and explain how each noun phrase acquires its case:

      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 07.

    Quiz 7:
    WH Movement

    Complete the following quiz by following the instructions carefully. Feel free to work in small groups on the quiz.

    Examine the following five sentences:

    1. Who do you think will win the award?
    2. From whom did you receive the notification?
    3. How many students do you suppose will drop the class?
    4. **By whom was the apple tart eaten?
    5. **How was the bridge destroyed?

      • Provide a D-structure representation for each sentence.
      • Show the movement of T and WH by inserting traces,
      • Explain the assignment of theta roles and case.

    ** This sentence will need several movements, and order of movement may be important.

    Due date: November 14.


    Return to the English 515 Course Syllabus

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