FURQAN AL ALIF

SYNTAX EXERCISE

Rewrite the following sentences with Phrase Structure Rules.

 Hint: Locate your principal NP and VP before beginning
. a)  Miriam swims. b)  The dog is barking. c)  Peter told the truth. d)  The wicked witch spilled
the potion. e)  The runner with the best time won the prize.

Draw a labeled tree diagram for the following English phrases.

(Hint: what part of speech is the leader for the phrase?)
a. ancient pyramids b.  in the early evening c.  Drove a car
Draw phrase structure trees for the following sentences:
 The puppy found the child  The ice melted  The hot sun melted the ice.  The house on
the hill collapsed in the wind.  The boat sailed up the river.  A girl laughed at the monkey.

Draw two phrase structure trees representing the two meanings of the sentence:
 The magician touched the child with the wand

In what way these sentences are ambiguous?

 We met an English history teacher  Flying planes can be dangerous  The
parents of the bride and groom were waiting outside  The students complained
to everyone that they couldn’t understand…
ANSWER)  
A. Miriam swims (VP)
S

VP
N V
Miriam Swims
The Dogs is Barking
S
NP VP
Det N to be V
The Dogs is barking
Peter Told the Truth
S
NP VP
PN V Det N
Peter Told the Truth
The wicked witch spilled the potion
S
NP VP

Det Adj N V Det N

The wicked witch spilled the potion

The runner with the best time won the prize.

NP VP

Det N Prep Det Adj N V Det N

The Runner with the best time won the prize

B. Ancient Pyramids
S

NP ( NOUN PHRASE)

Adj N

Ancient Pyramids

IN THE EARLY EVENING

PP ( PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE)

Prep Det Adv N

In the early evening

DROVE THE CAR

VP (VERB PHRASE)

V Det N
Drove the Car
 The puppy found the child
S
NP VP
Det N V Det N

The Puppy found the child

The Ice Melted

NP VP

Det N V

The Ice Melted

The hot sun melted the ice

S

NP VP

Det Adj N V Det N

The hot sun melted the ice

The house on the hill collapsed in the wind

S
NP VP
PP PP

Det N Prep Det Hill V Prep Det N

The boat sailed up the river

S
NP PP

Det N V Det N

The Boat sailed the N

A girl laughed at the monkey
S
NP VP
PP

Article N V Prep Det N

A girl laughed at the monkey

The magician touched the child with the wand

1st meaning: The child is touched by the magician with the wand
S
NP VP
Det N to be V Conj. Det N Prep Det N

The child is touched by the magician with the wind

2nd meaning : The wand is used by the magician to touch the child
S
NP VP
Det N to be V Conj Det N to V Det N

The wand is used by the magician to touch the child

AMBIGIOUS
1. We met an English history teacher
This sentence use two objects of noun that have two meanings
2. Flying planes can be dangerous
This sentence use two objects of noun that have two meanings
That means planes can be a dangerous vehicle, but not flying
, otherwise flying vehicle can be dangerous when it’s flying