Syntax: Relative Clauses and Gaps 2.1

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When a relative pronoun undergoes movement leaving an empty space, the position from which it moves is referred to as a ‘gap.’ The purpose of this exercise is to identify the gaps in the relative clauses of the following sentences. This helps one better understand the process of language comprehension, as well as the crucial role that theta assignment plays in parsing. For each of the sentences, determine the location of the gap.

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Question 1

My uncle who lives in LA comes to visit us every year at Thanksgiving.

A	My uncle who ____ lives in LA comes to visit us every year at Thanksgiving.
B	My uncle ____ who lives in LA comes to visit us every year at Thanksgiving. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'my uncle’, the subject of the verb 'lives.' My uncle lives in LA. who lives in LA, ‘Who’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.
C	My uncle who ____ lives in LA comes to visit us every year at Thanksgiving. My uncle who lives in LA ____ comes to visit us every year at Thanksgiving. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'my uncle’, the subject of the verb 'lives.' My uncle lives in LA. who lives in LA, ‘Who’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.

Question 2

This is the chef who won first prize for his famous mousse au crabe.

A	This is the chef who ___ won first prize for his famous mousse au crabe.
B	This is the chef who won first prize ____ for his famous mousse au crabe. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ’who’ is ‘the chef’, the subject of the verb ‘won.’ The chef won first prize. who won first prize, ‘Who’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.
C	This is the chef ___ who won first prize for his famous mousse au crabe. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ’who’ is ‘the chef’, the subject of the verb ‘won.’ The chef won first prize. who won first prize, ‘Who’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.

Question 3

There were three people at the party whose names we did not know.

A	There were three people at the party whose names ____ we did not know. Hint: ThThe antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘whose’ is ‘three peoples’’ the direct object of the verb 'know.' We did not know the three peoples’ names. we did not know whose names, ‘Whose’ (along with the NP ‘names’) moves from complement position of V ‘know’ to Spec CP.
B	There were three people at the party whose names we did not know _____.
C	There were three people at the party _____ whose names we did not know. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘whose’ is ‘three peoples’’ the direct object of the verb 'know.' We did not know the three peoples’ names. we did not know whose names, ‘Whose’ (along with the NP ‘names’) moves from complement position of V ‘know’ to Spec CP.

Question 4

The author whose book I gave you is autographing copies at the library tonight.

A	The author whose book I gave ____ you is autographing copies at the library tonight.
B	The author whose book ___ I gave you is autographing copies at the library tonight. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘whose’ is ’the author’s’, the direct object of the verb ‘gave.’ I gave the author’s book to you. (I gave you the author’s book.) I gave whose book to you. (I gave you whose book.) ‘Whose’ (along with the NP ‘book’) moves from complement position of V ‘gave’ to Spec CP.
C	The author whose book I gave you _____ is autographing copies at the library tonight. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘whose’ is ’the author’s’, the direct object of the verb ‘gave.’ I gave the author’s book to you. (I gave you the author’s book.) I gave whose book to you. (I gave you whose book.) ‘Whose’ (along with the NP ‘book’) moves from complement position of V ‘gave’ to Spec CP.

Question 5

Harriet scolded the customer who answered the phone.

A	Harriet scolded the customer who answered the phone ______. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'the customer’, the subject of the verb 'answered.' The customer answered the phone. who answered the phone, ‘Who’ moves from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.
B	Harriet scolded the customer _____ who answered the phone. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'the customer’, the subject of the verb 'answered.' The customer answered the phone. who answered the phone, ‘Who’ moves from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.
C	Harriet scolded the customer who ____ answered the phone.

Question 6

Do you remember the name of the actor who Sonia met in Paris last month?

A	Do you remember the name of the actor who Sonia met in Paris last month ____? Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'the actor', the direct object of the verb ‘met.’ Sonia met the actor in Paris last month. Sonia met who in Paris last month, ‘Who’ moves from complement position of V ‘met’ to Spec CP.
B	Do you remember the name of the actor who Sonia met ___ in Paris last month?
C	Do you remember the name of the actor ___ who Sonia met in Paris last month? Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'the actor', the direct object of the verb ‘met.’ Sonia met the actor in Paris last month. Sonia met who in Paris last month, ‘Who’ moves from complement position of V ‘met’ to Spec CP.

Question 7

The surfers who we talked politics with last weekend invited us to their beach house.

A	The surfers who ____ we talked politics with last weekend invited us to their beach house. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is ‘the surfers’, the object of the preposition 'with.' We talked politics with the surfers last weekend. we talked politics with who last weekend, ‘Who’ moves from the position of the object of the preposition ‘with’ to Spec CP.
B	The surfers who we talked politics with ____ last weekend invited us to their beach house.
C	The surfers who we talked politics with last weekend _____ invited us to their beach house. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is ‘the surfers’, the object of the preposition 'with.' We talked politics with the surfers last weekend. we talked politics with who last weekend, ‘Who’ moves from the position of the object of the preposition ‘with’ to Spec CP.

Question 8

The conference, which lasted three days was quite stimulating.

A	The conference, which lasted _____ three days was quite stimulating. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘which’ is 'the conference’, the subject of the verb 'lasted.' The conference lasted three days. which lasted three days, ‘Which’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.
B	The conference, which lasted three days _____ was quite stimulating. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘which’ is 'the conference’, the subject of the verb 'lasted.' The conference lasted three days. which lasted three days, ‘Which’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.
C	The conference, which ____ lasted three days was quite stimulating.

Question 9

I just met that superhero who is wearing a red dress.

A	I just met that superhero who ___ is wearing a red dress.
B	I just met that superhero who is wearing _____ a red dress. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'that superhero’, the subject of the verb 'is.' That superhero is wearing a red dress. who is wearing a red dress, ‘Who’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.
C	I just met that superhero who is wearing a red dress ____. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is 'that superhero’, the subject of the verb 'is.' That superhero is wearing a red dress. who is wearing a red dress, ‘Who’ will move from Spec IP to Spec CP within the relative clause.

Question 10

The man who I gave directions to still got lost.

A	The man who I gave ___ directions to still got lost. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is ‘the man’, the object of the preposition ‘to.’ I gave directions to the man. I gave directions to who/whom, ‘Who’ moves from the position of the object of the preposition ’to’ to Spec CP.
B	The man who ___ I gave directions to still got lost. Hint: The antecedent of the relative pronoun ‘who’ is ‘the man’, the object of the preposition ‘to.’ I gave directions to the man. I gave directions to who/whom, ‘Who’ moves from the position of the object of the preposition ’to’ to Spec CP.
C	The man who I gave directions to ____ still got lost.

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Syntax: Relative Clauses and Gaps 2.1

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