Midterm Exam
Fall 2000
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Define the Case Filter. It is possible to use the Case features ([±Case_Inh] and [±Nom]) to represent the Case Filter. How can you do this? (10)
*NP, if NP has no Case, and NP has phonetic content.
Yes. [-Case_Inh] requires that a value for Case (Nom) be assigned to the NP. If Case is assigned, the construction passes, if no Case is assigned, it does not pass.
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What principle(s) or rules do the following sentences violate? Explain with the correct form of the sentence (a derivation is not required here): (20)
*Those houses had be be painted.
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The features [+Past], [Pefrf], and [+Prog] need a host in order to spelled out. The proper dummy verbs were inserted, but the features were not spelled out or were spelled out as [NULL]; they must spelled out with a phonetic form.
*The some books were reading by much students.
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The is [+Def] and some is [Def]. Since the governs some, the matching features ([Def]) must match. However, they fail to do so; hence the sentence fails.
The intended sentences are:
Those houses had been being painted.
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Determine the full logical (argument) structure for the following sentence, derive its surface structure (short of moving the argument to the subject position): (35)
Eight deer migrated.
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Determine the logical structure of the following sentence and derive their surface structures (short of moving the argument to the subject position). You may use a short form by listing NPs without expanding them. Explain each step in the drawn structure (you may omit NP): (35)
Some insects have been eaten.
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T governs V (main); D governs Qu, and Qu N. N needs Pl,
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T governs V (main); D governs Qu, and Qu N.
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N needs Pl, copies it from 8
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T [+Past] needs a V-host. T govern V, creating a link between the two; [+Past] is copied down to V. V splits into Vstem and Vsuf.
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Spelled out as NULL NULL NULL migrated eight deer.
