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 brother moved to Alaska.
2. Next, here's a sentence that gives you a couple examples of an intensifier modifying an adjective phrase (AP --> int AP) :
   
   • The most difficult part of the puzzle was the very monochromatic part.
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) Remember to apply this 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.
4. And here are examples where PPs play an adverbial role, in one case modifying an adjective phrase and in the other case modifying a verb phrase (AP --> AP PP and VP --> VP PP):
   
   1. The popular singer became confident about his career. (uses the rule for a PP to modify an AP)
   2. Doris sent you many messages on your birthday! (uses the rule for a PP to modify a VP)
5. Here are four more practice sentences, one of which contains a use of a new rule for sentence (S) modification. See if you can figure out which one:
   1. One solitary candle flickered in the darkness.
   2. That cynical detective with the little notepad in his hands is unconvinced of our innocence.
   3. A woman's home is her castle.
   4. Surprisingly, many very interesting people work out at that small local gym.