Ch. 7 | Exercise 2

Chapter 7
Phrasal Structure and Verb Complementation

Exercise 7.2
The Form of Phrase Structure Rules

1.

For each of the following phrase structure rules, write out the possible sequences that each rule generates:

Example: A → B (C D) E

Answer: A → B E

A → B C D E

a.

A → B (C) D (E)

b.

A → B (C) (D) E

c.

A → B {C, D} {E, F, H} G

d.

f1.svg

2.

For the following phrase structure rule, write out all the possible sequences that the rule generates.

f2.svg

3.

Given the following tree diagram, write the phrase structure rules that generated it.

f3.svg

4.

Consider the following hypothetical phrase structure grammar:

H → x R (S)

R → k m ({n, o})

m → P

k → v

S → {y, z} (H)

a.

What is the initial symbol?

b.

What are the terminal symbols?

c.

What is the recursive symbol?

d.
i.

List the nonbranching nodes

ii.

List the branching nodes

e.
i.

Are S and k sister nodes?

ii.

Are z and v sister nodes?

iii.

Are m and n sister nodes

iv.

Are R and S sister nodes?

f.
i.

Which node may immediately dominate S?

ii.

Which nodes may S immediately dominate?

g.

In this grammar:

i.

Can the sequence k and m form a constituent

ii.

Can k, m, and o?

iii.

Can m and n?

iv.

Can R and S?

v.

Can y?

h.

Indicate which of the following trees are generated by this grammar. Explain what is wrong with the unacceptable trees.

i.

f4.svg

ii.

f5.svg

iii.

f6.svg

iv.

f7.svg

v.

f8.svg

1.
a.

A →B D

A →B C D

A →B D E

A →B C D E

b.

A →B E

A →B C E

A →B D E

A →B C D E

c.

A →B C F G

A →B C E G

A →B C H G

A →B D F G

A →B D E G

A →B D H G

d.

(d)A →B E

A →B C E

A →B D E

2.

S →A B C D

S →A B C E

S →A D

S →A E

S →F G

S →G

3.

S → A B C

C → D {C, A}

Note that from the evidence of one tree, you cannot determine which elements are optional. For example, B may be optional.

4.
a.

H

b.

x, n, o, P, v, y, z

c.

H

d.
i.

m, k

ii.

H, S, R

e.
i.

No (S is the “aunt” of k)

ii.

No (they are “cousins”)

iii.

Yes – both are dominated by R

iv.

Yes – both are dominated by S

f.
i.

H

ii.

y, z, H

g.
i.

Yes of R

ii.

Yes, of R

iii.

No, k must be present

iv.

No, x must be present

v.

Yes, of S

h.
i.

not acceptable – H must dominate x

ii.

acceptable

iii.

not acceptable – R must dominate m

iv.

not acceptable – S can dominate y or z, but not both

v.

acceptable