Jaren Lewis

LING 461 Homework 3

Nov 17, 2010

Chapter 5
Challenge Problem Set 4
1.
Zibunzisin is an anaphor: it is bound by an antecedent (Maryk ) in its binding domain,
meaning it cannot grammatically be a pronoun according to binding princible B.

2.
In this sentence zibunzisin is a pronoun: it is bound outside its binding domain, but free
within it. In both (a) and (b), zibunzisin only coindexes grammatically with the noun
immediately preceding it, irrespective of its clausal position. This would seem to suggest
that it can act as either in different contexts.

3.
Sentence (c) most clearly violates binding principle C: Maryk , which is clearly an R-expression,
is bound by zibunzisin.

Chapter 6
Problem Set 4
a)
The AdvP “never” is an adjunct. To demonstrate with do-so replacement: “Erin never keeps
her pencils in the correct drawer but Jane always does so.” is grammatical. The “do-so” can
safely replace a V’ without affecting the AdvP. Conversely, if it were a complement, “*Erin
never keeps her pencils in the correct drawer but Jane does so her pencils on her desk.”
would be grammatical.
The NP “her pencils” is the complement. As a noun phrase adjacent to the verb, the NP
is clearly the direct object, and a verb’s direct object is its complement.
The PP “in the correct drawer” is an adjunct. If it were the complement, the intervening
NP “her pencils” would render the sentence ungrammatical. Instead, attempting to put
the PP in the complement’s position returns the ungrammatical “*Erin never keeps in the
correct drawer her pencils.”

b)
All three specified phrases—the PP “to new Mexico”, the PP “in the rain” and the AdvP
“last year”—are adjuncts of the VP. The sentence can be do-so replaced: “Dan walked to
New Mexico in the rain last year and John did so to Ohio in the snow the year before.” The
“did so” can replace the V “walked” in isolation, implying that it is the sole daughter of its
mother V’, and has no complement.
Problem Set 7
example b)
“Armadillos from New York often destroy old pillowcases with their snouts.”
TP

NP VP
N’ V’

N’ PP
N P’ AdvP V’
Armadillos
Adv’
P NP
from Adv
N’ V’ PP
often
N P’
V NP
destroy
New York N’ P NP
with
D N’
AdjP N’ their
N
Adj’ N snouts
pillowcases
Adj
old

example e)
“No-one understands that phrase structure rules explain the little understood phenomenon
of the infinite length of sentences.”
 TP

NP VP
N’ V’
N
No-one
V CP
understands

C TP
that

NP VP
N’ V’

V NP5
NP N explain
rules
N’

N’ NP
N N’
phrase
N
structure
NP5

D N’
the

AdjP N’
Adj’
N PP
AdvP Adj’ phenomenon
P’
Adv’ Adj
understood P NP
Adv of
little
D N’
the
AdjP N’
Adj’ N PP
length
Adj P’
infinite
P NP
of
N’
N
sentences

example i)
“The red volume of obscene verse from Italy shocked the puritan soul of the minister with
the beard quite thoroughly yesterday.”
 TP

NP VP
V’
D N’
The
V’ AdvP

AdjP N’ Adv’
V’ AdvP
Adj’ Adv
Adv’ yesterday
V NP4
Adj shocked
red N’ PP
AdvP Adv’
P’
N PP Adv’ Adv
volume P NP thoroughly
P’ from Adv
N’ quite
P NP
of N
N’ Italy

AdjP N’
Adj’ N
verse
Adj
obscene
NP4

D N’
the

N’ PP

AdjP N’
P’ NP
Adj’ N
soul P
Adj of D N’
puritan the
N’ PP
N P’
minister
P NP
with
D N’
the
N
beard