Prof.

Marcelo F Videtta

Grammar I

Practice: Intransitive Verbs

Lesson 13 Activity 1: Analyse the following sentences semantically and syntactically.

1. The baby can walk!

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: walk (one-place verb)

Argument: the baby

Argument structure of walk: <1>

-Grid of walk: agent

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «walk» denotes manner of movement and it is

defined as an activity.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø The baby can walk!

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The baby can walk!

C (N)
[Common] H (T)
[Sing] Tensed Auxiliary
[Common] Modal AUX
H (D) [Concrete] (Ability) C (V)
Def Art [Count] [+Fin] Unergative Verb
Spec (DP) [- Past] [- Fin]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] Infinitive
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of walk: V [-- ]

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2. The roof was leaking.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: leak (one-place verb)

Argument: the roof

Argument structure of leak: <1>

-Grid of leak: originator

Proposition: dynamic- The verb «leak» is a verb of emission.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø The roof was leaking.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The roof was leaking.

C (N) H (T)
[Neuter] Tensed Auxiliary
[Sing] Primary AUX
[Common] Asp AUX
H (D) [Concrete] (Progressive) C (V)
Def Art [Count] [+ Fin] Unergative Verb
Spec (DP) [+ Past] [- Fin]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] Present Participle
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of leak: V [-- ]

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3. She had twisted her ankle and was limping.

Description

This is a compound sentence made up of two free-standing clauses linked by

the coordinating conjunction «and».

Syntactic representation of the compound sentence

She had twisted her ankle and (she) was limping.

H (Co)
Cumulative
Coordinating
Spec (CP) Conjunction C (CP)
CoP

Semantic Analysis of the first main clause

Predicator: twist (two-place verb)

Arguments: she, her ankle

Argument structure of twist: <1, 2>

-Grid of twist: agent, affected object

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «twist» denotes causative meaning.

Semantic Analysis of the second main clause

Predicator: limp (one-place verb)

Argument: (she)

Argument structure of limp: <(1)>

-Grid of limp: (agent)

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «limp» denotes manner of movement.

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Syntactic Representation of the first main clause

Second Functional Layer

Ø She had twisted her ankle

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

She had twisted her ankle

H (D) C (N)
H (T) Possessive D [Neuter]
Tensed Auxiliary [Fem] [Sing]
Primary AUX [Sing] [Common]
Spec (PRN) Asp AUX H (V) [3rd] [Concrete]
[Fem] (Perfect) MonoTV [Gen] [Count]
[Sing] [+ Fin] [- Fin] C / DO (DP)
[3rd] [+ Past] Past Participle [3rd] [Acc]
[Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of twist: V [-- DP]

Syntactic Representation of the second main clause

Second Functional Layer

Ø (she) was limping.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

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First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

(she) was limping.

H (T)
Tensed Auxiliary
Primary AUX
Spec (PRN) Asp AUX
[Fem] (Progressive) C (V)
[Sing] [+ Fin] Unergative Verb
[3rd] [+ Past ] [- Fin]
[Nom] [EPP] Present participle
Subject Predicate

Subcategorisation frame of limp: V [-- ]

Lesson 14 Activity 1: Analyse the following sentences semantically and syntactically.

1. The man looked very tired.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: tired (one-place adjective)

Argument: the man

Argument structure of tired: <1>

-Grid of tired: experiencer

Proposition: stative. The verb «look» denotes a state of affairs.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø The man looked very tired.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

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First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The man Ø looked very tired.

C (N) H (V)
[Masc] Current
[Sing] H (T) Copulative Verb
[Common] Abstract Affix Hopping Adj / Pre-Mod
H (D) [Concrete] Tense Affix Affix Attachement (ADV) H (A)
Def Art [Count] [+ Fin] [+ Fin] C / PCs (AP)
Spec (DP) [+ Past]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of tired: A [-- ]

2. I walk to the station every day.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: walk (two-place verb)

Arguments: I, to the station

Argument structure of walk: <1, 2>

-Grid of walk: theme, locative

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «walk» denotes manner of movement.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø I walk to the station every day.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

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First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

I Ø walk to the station every day.

C (N)
[Neuter] C (N)
H (V) [Sing] [Neuter]
H (T) Unaccusative [Common] [Sing]
Spec Abstract Verb H (D) [Concrete] [Common]
(PRN) Tense Affix Hopping Def Art [Count] [Concrete]
[Common] Affix Affix H (P) C / P Comp (DP) H (Q) [Count]
[Sing] [+ Fin] Attachement C / Adv Comp of Place Adj / Adv Adj of Time
[1st] [- Past] [+ Fin] (PP) (QP)
[Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of walk : V [-- PP]

NB1: everyday (A) / every day (Adverbial)

everyday activities

I do the housework every day.

NB2: D / Q

D: definite article (the), possessives (my), demonstratives (this).

Q: indefinite article (a), quantifiers (some / no / any / every / each)

3. The National Bank was robbed last week.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: rob (two-place verb) (sentence in the passive)

Arguments: (somebody), the National Bank

Argument structure of rob: <(1), 2>

-Grid of rob: (agent), patient

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «rob» denotes causative meaning.

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Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø The National Bank was robbed last week.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

Movement Operation

C Subject T Lexical C / DO Adj

Verb
Ø The National Bank was robbed the National Bank last week

Argument Movement

NB: The subject of the active sentence has been demoted (downgraded/relegated).

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The National Bank was robbed Ø last week.

H (T) H (N)
H (N) Tensed [Neuter]
[Neuter] Auxiliary [Sing]
[Sing] Primary Adj / [Common]
[Common] AUX H (D) Pre-Mod [Concrete]
Adj / [Concrete] Voice H (V) Null (A) [Count]
H (D) Pre-Mod (A) [Count] AUX MonoTV in Det C (NP)
Def Art C (NP) (Passive) the active Adj / Adv Adj of Time (DP)
[+ Fin]
Spec (DP) [+ Past ]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of rob: V [-- DP]

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Lesson 16 Activity 2: Analyse the following sentences semantically and syntactically.

1. Some power cables snapped during the storm.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: snap (one-place verb)

Argument: some power cables

Argument structure of snap: <1>

-Grid of snap: theme

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «snap» denotes a change of state.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø Some power cables snapped during the storm.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

Some power cables Ø snapped during the storm.

Adj / Pre- C (N)

Mod (N) H (N) H (V) [Neuter]
[Neuter] [Neuter] Ergative [Sing]
[Sing] [Sing] Verb [Common]
[Common] [Common] H (T) Affix H (D) [Concrete]
[Concrete] [Concrete] Abstract Hopping Def Art [Count]
[Uncount] [Count] Tense Affix H (P) C / P Comp (DP)
Affix Attachement Adj / Adv Adj of Time
H (Q) C (NP) [+ Fin] [+ Fin] (PP)
Spec (QP) [+ Past]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of snap: V [-- ]

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2. The wind cleared the sky.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: clear (two-place verb)

Arguments: the wind, the sky

Argument structure of clear: <1, 2>

-Grid of clear: external causer, patient (or affected object)

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «clear» denotes causative meaning.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø The wind cleared the sky.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The wind Ø cleared the sky.

C (N)
[Neuter]
C (N) [Sing]
[Neuter] H (V) [Common]
[Sing] H (T) MonoTV H (D) [Concrete]
[Common] Abstract Affix Hopping Def Art [Count]
H (D) [Concrete] Tense Affix Affix Attachement C / DO (DP)
Def Art [Count] [+ Fin] [+ Fin] [3rd] [Acc]
Spec (DP) [+ Past]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of clear: V [-- DP]

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3. The sky cleared.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: clear (one-place verb)

Argument: the sky

Argument structure of clear: <1>

-Grid of clear: theme

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «clear» denotes change of state.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø The sky cleared.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The sky Ø cleared

C (N)
[Neuter]
[Sing] H (T)
[Common] Abstract C (V)
H (D) [Concrete] Tense Affix Ergative Verb
Def Art [Count] [+ Fin] Affix Hopping
Spec (DP) [+ Past] Affix Attachement
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] [+ Fin]
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of clear: V [-- ]

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4. The sky is clear.

Semantic Analysis

Predicator: clear (one-place adjective)

Argument: the sky

Argument structure of clear: <1>

-Grid of clear: theme

Proposition: stative. The adjective «clear» denotes a set of entities of that type.

Syntactic Representation

Second Functional Layer

Ø The sky is clear.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The sky Ø is clear

C (N)
[Neuter]
[Sing] H (T)
[Common] Abstract
H (D) [Concrete] Tense Affix H (V)
Def Art [Count] [+ Fin] Copulative Verb C / PCs (A)
Spec (DP) [- Past]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of clear: A [-- ]

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Lesson 17 Activity 3: Analyse the following sentences semantically and syntactically.

1. The door opened and a fat woman came into the room.

Description

This is a compound sentence made up of two free-standing clauses linked by

the coordinating conjunction «and».

Syntactic representation of the compound sentence

The door opened and a fat woman came into the room.

H (Co)
Cumulative
Coordinating
Spec (CP) Conjunction C (CP)
CoP

Semantic Analysis of the first main clause

Predicator: open (one-place verb)

Argument: the door

Argument structure of open: <1>

-Grid of open: theme

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «open» denotes change of position.

Semantic Analysis of the second main clause

Predicator: come (two-place verb)

Arguments: a fat woman, into the room

Argument structure of come: <1, 2>

-Grid of come: theme, locative

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «come» denotes directed motion.

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Syntactic Representation of the first main clause

Second Functional Layer

Ø The door opened

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

The door Ø opened

C (N)
[Neuter]
[Sing] H (T)
[Common] Abstract C (V)
H (D) [Concrete] Tense Affix Ergative Verb
Def Art [Count] [+ Fin] Affix Hopping
Spec (DP) [+ Past] Affix Attachement
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] [+ Fin]
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of clear: V [-- ]

Syntactic Representation of the second main clause

Second Functional Layer

Ø a fat woman came into the room.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

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First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

a fat woman Ø came into the room.

C (N)
H (N) [Neuter]
[Fem] H (V) [Sing]
[Sing] Unaccusative [Common]
Adj / [Common] H (T) Verb H (D) [Concrete]
Pre-Mod [Concrete] Abstract Affix Hopping Def Art [Count]
(A) [Count] Tense Affix H (P) C / P Comp (DP)
H (Q) Affix Attachement C / Adv Comp of Place
Indef Art C (NP) [+ Fin] [+ Fin] (PP)
Spec (QP) [+ Past]
[3rd] [Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of come: V [-- PP]

3. They told me that he was ill.

Description

This is a complex sentence made up of two clauses: a main clause and a finite

subordinate clause.

Semantic Analysis of the main clause

Predicator: tell (three-place verb)

Argument: they, me, that he was ill

Argument structure of tell: <1, 2, 3>

-Grid of tell: agent, recipient, theme/proposition

Proposition: dynamic. The verb «tell» is a verb of communication.

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Semantic Analysis of the finite subordinate clause

Predicator: ill (one-place adjective)

Argument: he

Argument structure of ill: <1>

-Grid of ill: theme

Proposition: stative. The adjective «ill» denotes a set of entities of that type.

Syntactic Representation of the main clause

Second Functional Layer

Ø They told me that he was ill.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

They Ø told me that he was ill

C / IO
H (T) H (V) (PRN)
Spec (PRN) Abstract BiTV [Common]
[Common] Tense Affix Affix Hopping [Sing] C / DO
[Pl] [+ Fin] Affix Attachement [1st] (CP / Nominal Finite
[3rd] [+ Past] [+ Fin] [Acc] Subordinate Clause)
[Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of tell: V [-- PRN CP]

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Syntactic Representation of the finite subordinate clause

Second Functional Layer

that he was ill.

H (C)
[Decl]
[+ Fin] C (TP)
CP

First Functional Layer and the Semantic Core

he Ø was ill

H (T)
Spec (D) Abstract Tense
[Masc] Affix H (V)
[Sing] [+ Fin] Copulative
[3rd] [+ Past] Verb C / PCs (A)
[Nom] [EPP] C (VP)
Subject Predicate
TP

Subcategorisation frame of ill : A [-- ]

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