Syntax/Semantics: Pronouns & Binding Theory 1.1

Syntax: Pronouns and Binding Theory 1.1

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This exercise will help you determine whether pronouns are free (the antecedent is not mentioned in the sentence containing the pronoun or the general discourse), bound (the antecedent is explicitly mentioned in the sentence or general discourse), or either (bound or free).

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Question 1

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either: She caught his eye at the party.

A	Either Hint: The pronoun 'she' cannot be bound to any referents in the sentence, thus it is free.
B	Free
C	Bound Hint: The pronoun 'she' cannot be bound to any referents in the sentence, thus it is free.

Question 2

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. Joseph loves her.

A	Bound Hint: The pronoun 'her' could refer to anyone, however It cannot be bound to Joseph.
B	Either Hint: The pronoun 'her' could refer to anyone, however It cannot be bound to Joseph.
C	Free

Question 3

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. What does Peter want him to do?

A	Bound Hint: The pronoun 'him' cannot be bound to Peter.
B	Either Hint: The pronoun 'him' cannot be bound to Peter.
C	Free

Question 4

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. We drove our parents crazy yesterday.

A	Bound
B	Either Hint: The pronoun 'our' must be bound to the referent 'we' because both express first-person possessive case.
C	Free Hint: The pronoun 'our' must be bound to the referent 'we' because both express first-person possessive case.

Question 5

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either: Aurelie reminded herself to lock the door.

A	Bound
B	Free Hint: 'Herself' is a reflexive pronoun; It must refer to the antecedent Aurelie or else the sentence does not make sense.
C	Either Hint: 'Herself' is a reflexive pronoun; It must refer to the antecedent Aurelie or else the sentence does not make sense.

Question 6

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. He decided to give his car to charity.

A	Either
B	Free Hint: It is possible that 'he' is an antecedent to the pronoun 'his', but it is also possible that the referent of 'his' is not present in this sentence.
C	Bound Hint: It is possible that 'he' is an antecedent to the pronoun 'his', but it is also possible that the referent of 'his' is not present in this sentence.

Question 7

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. She threw her ring out the window.

A	Either
B	Free Hint: The pronoun 'her' could be bound to 'she' or to a referent not present in the sentence.
C	Bound Hint: The pronoun 'her' could be bound to 'she' or to a referent not present in the sentence.

Question 8

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. They hid their diamonds under the bed.

A	Free Hint: It appears as though 'they' is an antecedent to the pronoun 'their', thus making 'their' a bound pronoun. However, it is also possible that the referent of 'their' is not the group of people referred to by 'they, and that it is not revealed in this sentence.
B	Bound Hint: It appears as though 'they' is an antecedent to the pronoun 'their', thus making 'their' a bound pronoun. However, it is also possible that the referent of 'their' is not the group of people referred to by 'they, and that it is not revealed in this sentence.
C	Either

Question 9

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. Mary wants her to drink more water.

A	Either Hint: The pronoun 'her' is not reflexive and is not bound to any referents proceeding it; It must be free then.
B	Bound Hint: The pronoun 'her' is not reflexive and is not bound to any referents proceeding it; It must be free then.
C	Free

Question 10

Decide whether the underlined pronoun in the sentence below is bound or free, or either. They found themselves lost again.

A	Free Hint: The pronoun 'themselves' must refer to the antecedent 'they' because it is reflexive.
B	Bound
C	Either Hint: The pronoun 'themselves' must refer to the antecedent 'they' because it is reflexive.

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Syntax: Pronouns and Binding Theory 1.1

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