Bmack
Member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2008
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- English
- Home Country
- United States
- Current Location
- United States
Determine which of the following bracketed sequences in the
sentences form constituents.
a. If a bracketed sequence is not a constituent, support your answer by
demonstrating this with two constituency tests that indicate the non constituency
of the sequence.
b. If a bracketed sequence is a constituent, support your answer with one
Constituency test that demonstrates this.
1. [The tragedy] upset the entire family.
This is a constituent because after using the stand alone test I see that this sentence can be used to answer a question. For example “What upset the entire family?” can be answered with “the tragedy”. So it is a constituent
2. The environmental [movement is gaining momentum.]
This is not a constituent because after using two test. The move as a unit test Preposing (Psuedoclefting): this sentence can not move as a unit. [movement is gaining momentum.] The environmental, does not work.
The second test I used is the stand alone test. [movement is gaining momentum.] does not work alone, and it can not answer any questions
3. The goslings [swam across] the lake.
This is not a constituent, after using two test, first the stand alone which shows that
“Swam across” can not stand alone it is a fragment, and can not answer any questions. The second test conducted is the move as a unit. Swam across the lake the goslings is not grammatical.
I am not really certain. Please advise.
sentences form constituents.
a. If a bracketed sequence is not a constituent, support your answer by
demonstrating this with two constituency tests that indicate the non constituency
of the sequence.
b. If a bracketed sequence is a constituent, support your answer with one
Constituency test that demonstrates this.
1. [The tragedy] upset the entire family.
This is a constituent because after using the stand alone test I see that this sentence can be used to answer a question. For example “What upset the entire family?” can be answered with “the tragedy”. So it is a constituent
2. The environmental [movement is gaining momentum.]
This is not a constituent because after using two test. The move as a unit test Preposing (Psuedoclefting): this sentence can not move as a unit. [movement is gaining momentum.] The environmental, does not work.
The second test I used is the stand alone test. [movement is gaining momentum.] does not work alone, and it can not answer any questions
3. The goslings [swam across] the lake.
This is not a constituent, after using two test, first the stand alone which shows that
“Swam across” can not stand alone it is a fragment, and can not answer any questions. The second test conducted is the move as a unit. Swam across the lake the goslings is not grammatical.
I am not really certain. Please advise.
