Syntax Word patterns

1
SyntaxWord patterns
2
Syntactic arguments

• Syntactic form
• Sentence patterns
• Grammatical roles
• Phrase structure rules
• Hierarchical structure

• Syntactic functions
• Event schemata
• Semantic roles
• Salience
• Energy flow

Homer preens DOING Agent Homer
3
Linear SequenceEnglish basic sentence patterns
(p.89)

• V1
• V2
• V3
• VCOP
• VCOMP
• VT-COMP

Intransitive Transitive Ditransitive
Copulative Complement Transitive-complement
1 argument
2 arguments
3 arguments
2 arguments (1 complement)
2 argument (1complement)
3 arguments(1complement)
4
S ? NP VP
NPs
VPs
Homer preens. Homer loves his blanket. Homer
throws the dog a bone. Homer is sexy. Homer goes
to the bar. Homer throws a bone to the dog.

• V1
• V2
• V3
• VCOP
• VCOMP
• VT-COMP

5
S ? NP VP
NPs
VPs
Homer preens. Homer loves his blanket. Homer
throws the dog a bone. Homer is sexy. Homer goes
to the bar. Homer throws a bone to the dog.

• V1
• V2
• V3
• VCOP
• VCOMP
• VT-COMP

6
Basic English phrase structure

• S ?
• NP ?
• AP ?
• PP ?
• VP ?

NP VP (Det) (AP) N (PP) (Deg) A P NP (Aux) V
(NP) (NP) (PP)
(Aux) VCOP
VPCOP ?
APNPPP
7
Phrase Structure Rules

• X ? Y X is a Y
• X Y X precedes Y
• (X) X is optional
• X X iterates 1 - 8 Xs
• X X or Y
• Y

8
Phrase Structure Rules

• Hierarchy

S ? NP VP
Linear Sequence
9
Structural analysis
Lexical
Syntactic
NP
AP
N
A
black board
10
Phrase structureSyntactic analysis
NP
AP
N
Det
A
the
black board
11
Phrase structureSyntactic analysis
NP
AP
N
Deg
A
Det
the
black board
very
12
Sexy Homer
Homer is sexy
13
Linear SequenceSexy Homer
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
14
HierarchySexy Homer
NP
VPCOP
AP
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
15
HierarchySexy Homer
S
NP
VPCOP
AP
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
16
HierarchySexy Homer
Copular verb phrase
S
VPCOP
NP
AP
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
17
HierarchySexy Homer
Copular verb phrase
S
NP
VPCOP
NP
N
VCOP
N
Det
Homer is a sexpot
18
HierarchySexy Homer
S
Copular verb phrase
VPCOP
NP
PP
NP
N
VCOP
N
P
Homer is in trouble
19
Phrase structureHierarchical Linear Structure
NP
AP
Hierachy
N
Deg
A
Det
the
black board
very
Linear sequence
20
Phrase structure Hierarchical Linear Structure
NP
AP
Hierachy
N
Deg
A
Det
planche
très noire
la
Linear sequence
21
Linear SequenceThe preening Homer
Homer preens
22
Linear SequenceThe preening Homer
N
V
Homer preens
23
HierarchyThe preening Homer
NP
VP
N
V
Homer preens
24
HierarchyThe preening Homer
S
NP
VP
N
V
Homer preens
25
HierarchyThe preening Homer
Intransitive verb phrase
S
NP
VP
N
V
Homer preens
26
Linear SequenceThe loving Homer
Homer loves his blanket
27
Linear SequenceThe loving Homer
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
28
HierarchyThe loving Homer
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
29
HierarchyThe loving Homer
VP
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
30
HierarchyThe loving Homer
S
VP
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
31
HierarchyThe loving Homer
Transitive verb phrase
S
VP
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
32
Linear SequenceHomers eating habits
The big bald guy eats crap
33
Linear SequenceHomers eating habits
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
34
HierarchyHomers eating habits
NP
NP
AP
AP
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
35
HierarchyHomers eating habits
VP
NP
NP
AP
AP
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
36
HierarchyHomers eating habits
S
NP
VP
NP
AP
AP
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
37
Structural ambiguity
I saw the man from the store.

• I was in the store, I looked out the window, and
  I saw the man from the store modifies saw.
• 2. The man is associated with the store, and I
  saw him from the store modifies the man.

38
Structural ambiguitySame linear sequence same,
different hierarchy
S
S
VP
NP
VP
PP
PP
NP
NP
NP
NP
NP
Pro
V
N
P
Det
N
Det
V
N
P
Det
N
Det
Pro
I saw the man from the store.
I saw the man from the store.
39
Structural ambiguitySame linear sequence same,
different hierarchy
S
S
VP
VP
NP
PP
NP
NP
NP
Pro
V
V
Pro
I saw the man from the store.
I saw the man from the store.