Structure Trees

[Jonicus]

Hi, folks.

We've started phrase tree structuring, and I'm trying to practice by doing some of the harder examples from the book; and trying to break down ambiguous sentences into their separate meanings.

Anyway, I just randomly chose a sentence from a different exercise, which is no smoking section available. I'm doing one, and this is how far I've come:

             S
          /    \
         /      \
        NP      ??
      /    \
     /      \
    /        \ 
  Adj        N
   |         |
no-smoking   section

See, I cannot figure out what comes on the other side, namely, what function does ‘available’ serve? Now, I know that sentences have the structure (S->NP+VP), so I am feeling that it should be VP, but then what does that break down into... I mean, what more specifically is ‘available’? Is it an adverb, adjective, etc?

Also, I've made a tree for the other meaning:

             S
          /    \
         /      \
        NP      ??
      /    \
     /      \
    /        \
  Adj        NP
   |        /  \
  no       Adj  N
            |   |
       smoking  section

Basically, I'm just trying to test my skill, here, to know if I understand it or not. Are either of these diagrams correct in any way? Also, what to do about that darned ‘available’?


Thank you so much to anyone able to offer assistance,
Jonicus

[seba_870701]

Originally Posted by Jonicus

Hi, folks.

We've started phrase tree structuring, and I'm trying to practice by doing some of the harder examples from the book; and trying to break down ambiguous sentences into their separate meanings.

Anyway, I just randomly chose a sentence from a different exercise, which is no smoking section available. I'm doing one, and this is how far I've come:

             S
          /    \
         /      \
        NP      ??
      /    \
     /      \
    /        \ 
  Adj        N
   |         |
no-smoking   section

See, I cannot figure out what comes on the other side, namely, what function does ‘available’ serve? Now, I know that sentences have the structure (S->NP+VP), so I am feeling that it should be VP, but then what does that break down into... I mean, what more specifically is ‘available’? Is it an adverb, adjective, etc?

Also, I've made a tree for the other meaning:

             S
          /    \
         /      \
        NP      ??
      /    \
     /      \
    /        \
  Adj        NP
   |        /  \
  no       Adj  N
            |   |
       smoking  section

Basically, I'm just trying to test my skill, here, to know if I understand it or not. Are either of these diagrams correct in any way? Also, what to do about that darned ‘available’?


Thank you so much to anyone able to offer assistance,
Jonicus

Well... as you've noticed, a sentence in Eng must follow a pattern: S->NP+VP !! In the phrase You tried to analyse there is no verb, thus it is not a sentence!

Hope I helped.
Regards.

ps
available is an adjective.

[beck]

Your sentence "no smoking section available" is a fragment, which you see commonly in spoken or casual language or on signs. The whole sentence would be something like "There is a no-smoking section available."