Syntax: What’s in a Node? 1.1

Syntax: What's in a Node 1.1

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Question 1

When does Cinderella have to return to her home?

A	Spec CP Hint: In question formation, any inflection found in I head will raise to C head. In this example, the inflectional material in I head that raises to C head is covert (not spoken) and surfaces as 'does'.
B	C' Hint: In question formation, any inflection found in I head will raise to C head. In this example, the inflectional material in I head that raises to C head is covert (not spoken) and surfaces as 'does'.
C	C head Hint: In question formation, any inflection found in I head will raise to C head. In this example, the inflectional material in I head that raises to C head is covert (not spoken) and surfaces as 'does'.

Question 2

Harriet found two shiny diamonds hidden underneath a trap door in her parlor.

A	Spec NP Hint: In this example. 'two' is a quantifier thus will be found in Spec NP.
B	N' Hint: In this example. 'two' is a quantifier thus will be found in Spec NP.
C	Spec AP Hint: In this example. 'two' is a quantifier thus will be found in Spec NP.

Question 3

Harriet is hoping her brother will join her for the family vacation.

A	I head Hint: In this sentence 'is' acts as an auxiliary verb showing aspect of the lexical verb 'hope' thus it can only be found in I head.
B	I' Hint: In this sentence 'is' acts as an auxiliary verb showing aspect of the lexical verb 'hope' thus it can only be found in I head.
C	V head Hint: In this sentence 'is' acts as an auxiliary verb showing aspect of the lexical verb 'hope' thus it can only be found in I head.

Question 4

Superman will be signing copies of his new book Sunday afternoon.

A	I head Hint: In this example 'will' is a modal verb that, at the introductory level, sits in I head.
B	V head Hint: In this example 'will' is a modal verb that, at the introductory level, sits in I head. It is not the lexical verb, which sits in V head.
C	Spec CP Hint: In this example 'will' is a modal verb that, at the introductory level, sits in I head. It is not a Wh element thus cannot be found in Spec CP.

Question 5

At what level would the phrase 'three' be attached to the NP 'bears' in a syntactic tree? The three little bears came returned home to a table set with a delicious dinner.

A	N head Hint: Since 'three' is an adjective that modifies the NP ' the bears' it is an adjunct and not an obligatory component of the NP. All adjuncts must be attached to the element they modify at the bar (X') level.
B	N' Hint: Since 'three' is an adjective that modifies the NP ' the bears' it is an adjunct and not an obligatory component of the NP. All adjuncts must be attached to the element they modify at the bar (X') level.
C	Spec NP Hint: Since 'three' is an adjective that modifies the NP ' the bears' it is an adjunct and not an obligatory component of the NP. All adjuncts must be attached to the element they modify at the bar (X') level.

Question 6

Who do you think is coming to dinner?

A	Spec CP Hint: All Wh elements must be found in Spec CP in surface structure.
B	C Head Hint: All Wh elements must be found in Spec CP in surface structure.
C	C' Hint: All Wh elements must be found in Spec CP in surface structure.

Question 7

At which level is the AP 'intelligent' attached? We know Spiderman is intelligent since he aced his syntax exam.

A	Spec VP Hint: The phrase 'Spiderman is intelligent' is a copula structure, thus the adjective 'intelligent' is an obligatory component of the VP. Without it, the VP would be ungrammatical: *Spiderman is... It must be attached at the head level as a complement sister.
B	V head Hint: The phrase 'Spiderman is intelligent' is a copula structure, thus the adjective 'intelligent' is an obligatory component of the VP. Without it, the VP would be ungrammatical: *Spiderman is... It must be attached at the head level as a complement sister.
C	V ' Hint: The phrase 'Spiderman is intelligent' is a copula structure, thus the adjective 'intelligent' is an obligatory component of the VP. Without it, the VP would be ungrammatical: *Spiderman is... It must be attached at the head level as a complement sister.

Question 8

In the sentence 'Lois is sure she left her keys in the car', where would 'her keys' be attached on a tree?

A	V head Hint: Since the NP 'her keys' is the direct object of the transitive verb 'left', it must be attached at the V head level since it is an obligatory component of the structure of the verb
B	V' Hint: Since the NP 'her keys' is the direct object of the transitive verb 'left', it must be attached at the V head level since it is an obligatory component of the structure of the verb
C	P' Hint: Since the NP 'her keys' is the direct object of the transitive verb 'left', it must be attached at the V head level since it is an obligatory component of the structure of the verb

Question 9

I found the ferret under the kitchen sink.

A	P' Hint: The preposition 'under' is the head of the prepositional phrase 'under the kitchen sink', thus must be found in P head.
B	NP Hint: The preposition 'under' is the head of the prepositional phrase 'under the kitchen sink', thus must be found in P head.
C	P head Hint: The preposition 'under' is the head of the prepositional phrase 'under the kitchen sink', thus must be found in P head.

Question 10

Batman loves to throw parties for his neighbors.

A	Spec NP Hint: At the introductory level, the subject of the verb will always be found in Spec IP.
B	I' Hint: At the introductory level, the subject of the verb will always be found in Spec IP.
C	Spec IP Hint: At the introductory level, the subject of the verb will always be found in Spec IP.

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Syntax: What's in a Node 1.1

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