Modern Grammar - Assignment 17 James Madison University

Instructions: This is practice with some new phrase structure rules that may be involved in building single clause sentences. Think carefully and give it your best shot. It will be graded only as an acceptable or unacceptable effort.

1. First, practice with the rule turning a noun phrase that is marked with possessive morphology into a determiner (det --> NP 's ) As mentioned in class, I suggest you always circle the 's in on any noun that ends in this morpheme and then see if the NP that that noun builds is being used as a Det for another noun. (In this example, it will be. :) ) :
   
   • My dear friend's aunt writes children's novels.
2. Next, here's a sentence that gives you some more examples of an intensifier modifying an adjective phrase (AP --> int AP) :
   
   • That very sweet, extremely gooey pastry has a quite unnecessary maple frosting.
3. The next couple sentences include an adverb phrase that modifies whatever basic, bottom-level VP is already built by the requirements of the verb ( the modifier rule is VP--> VP AdvP) or a full sentence that has already been built (S--> AdvP S). Remember to apply the VP adverbial rule only after building the correct verb phrase that the verb in a particular sentence requires. Note too that in one of these sentenes, the adverbial phrase has been modified with an intensifier (AdvP --> int AdvP):
   1. She handed the bomb to the police carefully.
   2. Your new piano arrives very soon.
   3. Fortunately, we saved our receipts.
   4. Usually, the band turns up the volume on their speakers.
4. And here are examples where PPs play similar adverbial roles, in one case modifying and sentence, in another modifying a VP and in another, modifying an adjective phrase:(S --> AdvP S and VP --> VP PP were discussed in class, and there's one more rule where a PP modifies an adjective that precedes it: AP --> AP PP):
   
   1. Doris sent you many messages on your birthday! (uses the rule for a PP to modify a VP)
   2. In my imaginary kingdom, the royal chefs invented a calorie-free chocolate. (First example with S --> PP S)
   3. The popular singer became confident about his career. (uses the rule for a PP to modify an AP)
5. Diagram each of the sentences below:
   
   1. A woman's home is her castle.
   2. He sent flowers to his grandmother on Tuesday after class.
   3. I called up NASA before the eclipse.
   4. The invading army's early arrival ruined the leader of the village's defensive plans.
   5. That is the manager's assistant's parking space. (Recursive possessives...)
   6. We sent everyone the new schedule at your request.
   7. At your request, we sent the new schedule to everyone.
   8. One solitary candle flickered in the darkness.
   9. That cynical detective with the little notepad in his hands is unconvinced of our innocence.
   10. Surprisingly, many very interesting people work out at that small local gym.