Morphology: Case Assignment 2.1

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This exercise is designed to help you better understand the assignment of case to NPs which is based on the interface between syntax and morphology. If the responses we give are not clear enough, drawing a syntactic tree may be helpful.

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Question 1

Her apple pie is the best in the country.

A	N (apple pie) Hint: Finite ‘I’ (is) assigns NOM. case to Spec IP (apple pie).
B	V (is) Hint: Finite ‘I’ assigns NOM. case to Spec IP (apple pie). The verb 'is' cannot assign case. It is the inflectional material in I head that is the case assigner.
C	I (pres)

Question 2

The audience was enraptured by the phonologist’s talk.

A	N (talk)
B	P (by) Hint: ‘N’ (talk) assigns GEN. case to its possessive complement (phonologist).
C	V (enraptured) Hint: ‘N’ (talk) assigns GEN. case to its possessive complement (phonologist).

Question 3

The man bought a present for his children.

A	V (buy) Hint: ‘P’ (or) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (his children).
B	P (for)
C	I (past Hint: ‘P’ (or) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (his children).

Question 4

My friend reads a book every day.

A	N (friend) Hint: ‘V’ (reads) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (a book).
B	V (reads)
C	I (pres) Hint: ‘V’ (reads) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (a book).

Question 5

He used to work in a fancy restaurant.

A	P (in)
B	V (used) Hint: ‘P’ (in) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (a fancy restaurant).
C	V (work) Hint: ‘P’ (in) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (a fancy restaurant).

Question 6

Identify the case assigner of the bolded NP.

Sarah wants new shoes for her birthday.

A	I (present tense)
B	V (wants) Hint: Finite ‘I’ (wants) assigns NOM. case to Spec IP (Sarah).
C	P (for) Hint: Finite ‘I’ (wants) assigns NOM. case to Spec IP (Sarah).

Question 7

The visitors will arrive at exactly ten o’clock in the morning.

A	V (arrive) Hint: Finite ‘I’ assigns NOM. case to Spec IP.
B	P (at) Hint: Finite ‘I’ assigns NOM. case to Spec IP.
C	I head (will)

Question 8

Superman put the car in the garage.

A	V (put)
B	P (in) Hint: ‘V’ head (put) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (the car).
C	I head (past) Hint: ‘V’ head (put) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (the car).

Question 9

We gave directions to the girl from out of town.

A	P (to)
B	V (gave) Hint: ‘P’ (to) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (the girl).
C	P (from) Hint: ‘P’ (to) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (the girl).

Question 10

We gave directions to the girl from out of town.

A	P (to)
B	V (gave) Hint: ‘P’ (to) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (the girl).
C	P (from) Hint: ‘P’ (to) assigns ACC. case to its complement NP (the girl).

Question 11

They mistakenly assumed that the weather forecaster would be wrong.

A	V (be) Hint: Finite ‘I’ assigns NOM. case to Spec IP. In this case it is ‘I’ head of the embedded clause.
B	I head (would)
C	V (assumed) Hint: Finite ‘I’ assigns NOM. case to Spec IP. In this case it is ‘I’ head of the embedded clause.

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There are 11 questions to complete.

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Morphology: Case Assignment 2.1

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