Linguistic grammar homework.

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Chapter 11

Complements

I. Introduction to complements

A. What is a complement?

B. what information does a complement

provide?

C. Phrase structure of complements

D. Lexical determination of complements

II. Subcategorization

I Introduction to complements

A. What is a complement?

  • A complement provides necessary information for the interpretation of the verb.

A. What is a complement?

  • A complement provides necessary information for the interpretation of the verb.

  • In this sense, a complement “completes” the verb.

B. what information does a complement provide?

  • The complement provides information for interpretation of the semantic roles of the verb.

B. what information does a complement provide?

  • The complement provides information for interpretation of the semantic roles of the verb.
  • Example:

B. what information does a complement provide?

Kim broke the vase.

AGENT: Kim

THEME: a vase

B. what information does a complement provide?

  • In what sense is a verb incomplete without the Agent and Theme?

B. what information does a complement provide?

  • In what sense is a verb incomplete without the Agent and Theme?
  • The thematic roles of the verb are variables:

[ x broke y]

B. what information does a complement provide?

  • In what sense is a verb incomplete without the Agent and Theme?
  • The thematic roles of the verb are variables:

[ x broke y]

  • NPs replace the variable by a constant. This tells which event of breaking we are referring to.

C. Phrase structure of complements

Category of complements:

NP Kim broke [the vase].

PP Hideo talked [ about the problem]

S Julie says [ that Hans is smart ]

NP PP Fred put [a gift] [on the desk]

VP The bell stopped [ringing] (PrtP)

Phrase structure rule for complements

VP  V NP (PP)

S

D. Lexical determination of complements

  • How does the grammar ensure that the right type of complement occurs with any particular verb?

D. Lexical determination of complements

  • How does the grammar ensure that the right type of complement occurs with any particular verb?

*Kim broke [that Hans is smart]

D. Lexical determination of complements

  • How does the grammar ensure that the right type of complement occurs with any particular verb?

*Kim broke [that Hans is smart]

*break + S

D. Lexical determination of complements

  • How does the grammar ensure that the right type of complement occurs with any particular verb?

Kim broke [the vase]

D. Lexical determination of complements

  • How does the grammar ensure that the right type of complement occurs with any particular verb?

Kim broke [the vase]

break + NP

D. Lexical determination of complements

The lexicon specifies the required category:

break: V; _ NP (insert break before NP)

D. Lexical determination of complements

The lexicon specifies the required category:

break: V; _ NP (insert break before NP)

put: V; _ NP PP (insert put before NP – PP)

I. Introduction to complements: Summary

I. Introduction to complements: Summary

  • A. What is a complement? a phrase that provides information to complete the meaning of the verb.

I. Introduction to complements: Summary

  • A. What is a complement? a phrase that provides information to complete the meaning of the verb.
  • B. what information does a complement provide? The identity of the participants in the event (Agents, Themes, etc.)

I. Introduction to complements: Summary

  • C. Phrase structure of complements:

1. Phrase may be of any category

2. PS Rule:

VP  V NP (PP)

S

I. Introduction to complements: Summary

  • D. Lexical determination of complements: the category of complements is not predictable; it is learned individually for each verb.

II. Subcategorization

  • A. What is subcategorization?

II. Subcategorization

  • A. What is subcategorization?

  • Each part of speech is a category.

II. Subcategorization

  • A. What is subcategorization?

  • Each part of speech is a category.
  • Verbs fall into “subcategories” according to the type of complement they take:

II. Subcategorization

  • B. Subcategories of verb:

1. Intransitive verbs: no complement:

V; ___

The boy danced/ran/sang/yawned/sneezed

II. Subcategorization

2. Transitive verbs:

V; ___ NP

The boy broke something.

(wanted/bought/cut/loved)

II. Subcategorization

3. Ditransitive verbs

V; ___ NP PP

Ellen put [the computer][on the desk]

Verbs of transmittal: give, send, mail, ship

Anya sent [a card] [to her Mom].

II. Subcategorization

  • C. How is subcategorization encoded?

The Lexicon: a mental dictionary.

Contains information about words:

Meaning

Pronunciation

Category, subcategory

II. Subcategorization

Example: SEND:

  • Meaning: cause an object to undergo a change of possession;
  • Theta roles: Agent, Theme, Goal
  • Pronunciation: [s e n d ]
  • Syntax: Category: V

Subcategory: _ NP PP

II. Subcategorization: Summary

  • Subcategorization is the “context” information about a verb in the lexicon (mental dictionary)

Complements of Verbs

A. What phrases have complements?

B. Direct objects vs. Subjective

complements

C. Objective complements

D. PP complements

* Practice Identifying complements

A. What categories have complements?

A. What categories have complements?

All categories allow complements:

  • John envied Fred. (Verb)
  • John’s envy of Fred (Noun)
  • John is envious of Fred (Adjective)

A. What categories have complements?

Focus in this discussion: complements of verbs

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

1. Direct objects:

  • NP is Sister of non-linking verb
  • V allows active voice or passive voice
  • V assigns two thematic roles (transitive)

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

Direct Object Example:

The lightening caused a fire.

A fire was caused by lightening.

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

Direct Object Example:

The lightning caused a fire.

A fire was caused by lightning.

(Direct object NP in active voice; it appears as the subject in passive voice.)

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

Transitive verbs: assign two thematic roles:

The lightning caused a fire.

(Source) (Theme)

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

Transitive verbs: assign two thematic roles:

The lightning caused a fire.

(Source) (Theme)

(The two NPs refer to different entities.)

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

Transitive verbs: assign two thematic roles.

If the subject and object refer to the same entity, a reflexive pronoun is required:

The detective investigated herself.

The guests served themselves.

B. Direct objects versus Subjective
complements

2. Subjective complements:

  • NP or AP or PP is sister of a linking verb
  • Verb cannot be passivized
  • Linking verb does not assign two thematic roles
  • Subject and subjective complement refer to the same entity
  • Subjective complement is a predicate that describes the subject

Subjective complements

Subject NP and subjective complement refer to the same entity:

Hortense became a doctor.

SUBJECT Subject complement

Subjective complements

Subjective complement describes the subject.

  • Examples:

Sue and I remained good friends.

Joyce is a new homeowner.

Elizabeth is the Queen of England

Subjective complements

  • Phrase structure:

VP

V NP

AP

PP

Subjective complements

  • Linking verbs: (some examples)

be, remain, become, grow, get

Subjective complements

  • Semantics of subjective complements: Predicates.

  • A subjective complement does not refer to a person or thing, but to qualities or properties.

Subjective complements

  • Category of subjective complements:

AP: Elizabeth appeared interested.

NP: Kumiko is a doctor.

PP: The kids remained at home.

Direct Objects vs. Subjective complements

  • Diagnostics to distinguish Direct Objects from Subjective complements:

1. Is the verb a linking Verb?

2. Can the verb be passivized?

3. Does NP refer to a person/thing or is it

a predicate that describes the subject?

4. Can NP/AP/PP appear as complement?

Direct objects versus Subjective complements

  • Diagnostics: example

They remained good friends

  • Remain is a linking verb
  • Remain cannot be passivizied
  • NP describes the subject, does not refer to separate individual
  • NP can be replaced by AP or PP.

C. Objective complements

  • Example:

They elected Fred president.

C. Objective complements

  • Phrase Structure:

VP

V NP NP

elected Fred president

C. Objective complements

Characteristics of Objective complements:

1. occur after a direct object:

They consider Fred intelligent.

D.O.

C. Objective complements

Characteristics of Objective complements:

1. occur after a direct object:

They consider Fred intelligent.

D.O.

Fred is considered intelligent.

C. Objective complements

Characteristics of Objective complements:

2. Describe the direct object (Predicated

of the direct object)

They named Ranil chief of the clan.

(a property)

3. Category: NP, AP, PP

C. Objective complements

Examples:

The club named him as president. (PP)

Mary nominated him to the board. (PP)

They called the movie a success. (NP)

Hideo considers himself very lucky. (AP)

III. Identify these phrases

Indirect object or Objective complement?

That will make her roommate a success.

III. Identify these phrases

Indirect object or Objective complement?

That will make her roommate a success.

NP can be replaced by AP or PP

NP is a predicate: describes the object

Conclusion: Objective complement

III. Identify these phrases

Direct object or Subjective complement?

This house looks a mess.

III. Identify these phrases

Direct object or Subjective complement:

This house looks a mess.

NP can be replaced by AP or PP

NP is a predicate: describes the subject

V is a linking verb; it cannot be passivized

Conclusion: Subjective complement