《语言学》Chapter4Synta习题兼答案.docxVIP

PAGE PAGE 1 《新编简明英语语言学教程》第二版 第 4 章练习题参考答案 Chapter 4 Syntax What is syntax? Syn tax is a branch of lin guistics that studies how words are comb ined to form senten ces and the rules that gover n the formati on of senten ces. What is phrase structure rule? The grammatical mecha nism that regulates the arran geme nt of eleme nts (i.e. specifiers, heads, and compleme nts) that make up a phrase is called a phrase structure rule. The phrase structural rule for NP, VP, AP, and PP can be written as follows: NP T (Det) N (PP) ... VP T (Qual) V (NP) ... AP T (Deg) A (PP) ... PP T (Deg) P (NP) ... We can formulate a sin gle gen eral phrasal structural rule in which X sta nds for the head N, V, A or P. The XP rule: XP T (specifier) X (complement) What is category? How to determine a words category? Category refers to a group of linguistic items which fulfill the same or similar functions in a particular Ian guage such as a sentence, a noun phrase or a verb. To determ ine a words category, three criteria are usually employed, n amely meaning, in flect ion and distribution. 若详细回答，则要加上： Word categories ofte n bear some relati on ship with its meaning. The meanings associated with nouns and verbs can be elaborated in various ways. The property or attribute of the entities denoted by nouns can be elaborated by adjectives. For example, when we say that pretty lady , we are attributing the property ‘ pretty to the lady designated by the noun. Similarly, the properties and attributes of the actions, sen sati ons and states desig nated by verbs can typically be deno ted by adverbs. For example, in Jenny left quietly the adverb quietly indicates the manner of Jennys leaving. The sec ond criteri on to determ ine a words category is in flect ion. Words of differe nt categories take different inflections. Such nouns as boy and desk take the plural affix - s. Verbs such as work and help take past tense affix -ed and progressive affix -ing. And adjectives like quiet and clever take compar