Syntax

The analysis of sentence structure

What is Syntax Not?

Phonology: study of sound systems

and how sounds combine
Morphology: study of how words
are formed from smaller parts
(morphemes)
Semantics: study of meaning of
language

Definition of Syntax
Syntax is the study of the rules
governing the way words are
combined to form sentences in a
language.
*garden the
*Children are
*Work in
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Phrase structure rules

Some words seem to belong
together:
{The crazy man} {is jumping off
the bridge}

Groups of words that belong

together are called constituents
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Phrase Structure Rule

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

S NP VP
NP (Det) (Adj) N (PP)
NP that S
NP Pro
VP V (NP) (PP) (Adv)
PP P NP

Phrase Structure Rule

1. S NP VP
the boy found the ball
2. NP (Det) (Adj) N (PP)
the beautiful girl on the piano

Phrase Structure Rule

3. NP that S
NP

that

I love Jenny

Phrase Structure Rule

S
NP

VP

NP

NP

NP

the

suitor

knows

NP

that

Embedded
I love Jenny

Phrase Structure Rule

4. NP Pro
I, You, We
5. VP V (NP) (PP) (Adv)
blew the boat into the water
suddenly

Phrase Structure Rule

6. PP P NP
of the people
for the people
by the people

Phrase Structure Rules

If we look at phrases, some patterns
emerge:
Det
N
the instructor = NP
Det N
a friend = NP
Det
N
some homework = NP
Det
N
two classes = NP
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Phrase Structure Rules

some more patterns:
V Det N
call the instructor= VP
V
Det N
meet a friend = VP
V Det N
do some homework = VP
V
Det
N
skip two classes = VP
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PSR
V Det N
V Det N
V
Det N
run a marathon eat the food read the
book
V Prep Det N
V Prep Det N
go to the store
talk with a teacher
V
Det N Prep Det N
take your sister to the library
Verb phrases have a V, (sometimes) an
NP, and (sometimes) a PP
VP -> V (NP) (PP)
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PSR
and yet more patterns:
Prep Det
N
with the instructor= PP
Prep Det N
from a friend = PP
Prep Det
N
with some homework = PP
Prep Det
N
after two classes = PP
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Phrase Structure Rules & tree

diagrams
NP (Det) N
PP P NP

The boy (NP)

Det

The

boy

the boy in the yard

NP
Det

PP
P

NP
Det

The

boy

in the

N
yard
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Phrase Structure Rules

VP V (NP) (PP)
S NP VP

took the money (VP)

V

NP
Det

took

the

took the money from the bank

VP
V

NP
Det

money

PP
N

NP
Det

took

the money from the

N
bank
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Phrase Structure Tree

ALL is
important

NP

VP

Det

the

child

Syntactic Categories

NP

found Det
the

N
puppy

Lexical Categories-lowest
categories in the tree.
Node

Structural Ambiguity (1)

The boy saw the man with the telescope
S
NP
Det

VP
N

NP
Det

PP
N

NP
Det

The

boy

saw the

man with the telescope

Meaning: Using the telescope, the boy saw the man

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Structural Ambiguity (2)

The boy saw the man with the telescope
S
NP
Det

VP
N

NP

V
Det

PP
P

NP
Det

The

boy

saw

the

man with the telescope

Meaning: The boy saw the man. The man had a telescope.

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Example (1)
The old tree swayed in the wind
S
NP
Det

Adj

VP
N

PP
P

NP
Det

The

old

tree

swayed

in the

N
wind
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Example (2)
The children put the toy in the box
S
NP
Det

VP
N

NP
Det

PP
N

NP
Det

The

children

put

the

toy

in the

N
box
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Example 3

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Exercises
Rewrite the following sentences with Phrase
Structure Rules. Hint: Locate your principal NP
and VP before beginning.
a) Miriam swims.
b) The dog is barking.
c) Peter told the truth.
d) The wicked witch spilled the potion.
e) The runner with the best time won the prize.

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Exercises
Draw phrase structure trees for the
following sentences:
The puppy found the child
The ice melted
The hot sun melted the ice.
The house on the hill collapsed in the
wind.
The boat sailed up the river.
A girl laughed at the monkey.
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Exercises

Draw two phrase structure trees

representing the two meanings of the
sentence:
The magician touched the child with the
wand.

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NP

VP

Pro

thank

Pro

you