Linguistics 322

Spring 1999

Week 11

Exercise No. 9

Problem I:

Determine the argument structure for the following sentences, determine its surface structure, and explain each step: what motivates each step in the following example:

(1)     Who does Mary like?

NOTE: Explain each step. Many of you didn't on the last homework.

Problem II

Determine the argument structure for:

(2)    What has Bill been doing?

Complete the derivation.

Problem III:

how are the following forms spelled out:

+WH, SOMEBODY, -Nom.

+WH, SOMETHING, +Nom.

+WH, SOMEBODY, +Nom.

Problem IV:

Determine the string derivation of:

WH Pol[+Neg] C[+Irreal] S[+PT] T[+Past] R[-Perf] Asp[-Prog] Vce[-Pass] <PAINT+[-Nom] [NP SOMETHING, WHT, WH\___, [ Nom]] [NP JOHN-[ Nom]]?

You don't have to draw a tree for this; thus rearrange the forms and spell them out; example:

Pol[-Neg] C[-Irreal] S[+PT] T[-Past] R[-Perf] Asp[-Prog] Vce[+Pass] [V SEE, [-Nom] [NP THE MOLE+[PT]] [ Nom] [NP THE CAT [ Nom]]

-->

Pol[-Neg] C[-Irreal] S[+PT]+NP THE MOLE [+Nom] T[-Past] R[-Perf] Asp[-Prog] Vce[+Pass] [V SEE, [-Nom] [NP THE MOLE+[PT] [+Nom]] [P, [-Nom] {BY} ] [NP THE CAT [-Nom]>

.

Problem V:

This is another exercise on problem solving rather than testing what you already know. Determine the argument structure for the following in linear form:

Mary asked Bill if he is coming to class.

Cf. *Mary asked Bill is he coming to class. (No quotes)

You don't have to do a derivation here. Cite the lexical entry for the question operator to account for both matrix clauses and embedded clauses.

Course Outline L322