Today

Structure of the ADVP

Degree Words Evidence for ADVP

Syntax of Adverb Phrases

Positions

Reading: pp. 182-185

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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

Like ADJ, Adverbs can be introduced by Degree words Comparison: more/most, less/least Intensity: too, very, so, quite Franz walks more quickly than Hans. Sora ate her lunch too fast. Nika speaks so quietly.
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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

Can ADV introduce other ADV? Franz walks amazingly quickly. Sora ate her lunch incredibly fast. Nika speaks extremely quietly. No, these are also Degree words. Heres why
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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

The meaning of an -ly word shifts from Manner to Degree when it introduces ADV She sings terribly (= in a terrible manner) ADV. She sings terribly well (= very) DEG

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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

Also, manner adverbs cannot introduce other manner adverbs *She sings carefully terribly.

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Structure of the ADVP

Phrase structure rule: ADVP (DEG) ADV ADVP DEG ADV ADVP ADV well
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very quietly extremely softly

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Structure of the ADVP

She sings very quietly. S NP N she V VP ADVP ADV quietly
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sings DEG very

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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

Evidence that a DEGREE word goes with an Adverb to form a phrase: WH-Movement Pronominalization Coordination

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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

WH-movement Charlie drives very carefully. Charlie drives how carefully? How carefully does Charlie drive___? *How does Charlie drive ___ carefully ? = how carefully is a constituent = ADVP
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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

Pronominalization Wh-proforms can also pronominalize for entire ADVP in a way that it often cant for AP: Ricky drives [ADVP very fast]. How does Ricky drive __? (very fast) Charlotte is [AP really nice]. *What is Charlotte? ( really nice)
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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

Coordination The soprano sang softly. The soprano sang very beautifully. The soprano sang softly and very beautifully.
= [softly] and [very beautifully] are both ADVPs

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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

softly and very beautifully ADVP ADVP ADV softly conj and ADVP DEG very
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ADV beautifully
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Syntax of the Adverb Phrase

The soprano sang [ADVP very [softly and beautifully]]. S NP DET the ADV N soprano V sang DEG very VP ADVP ADV ADV conj softly and beautifully

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Positions of the ADVP

There are five positions in the sentence where ADVPs can occur

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Positions of the ADVP

#1: Sentence-initially Probably, we wont eat the spinach. Unfortunately, we ate the spinach.

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Positions of the ADVP

#2: Before the first AUX We most likely will not eat the spinach. We certainly are eating the spinach.

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Positions of the ADVP

#3: After the first AUX We will seldom eat spinach. I am never eating spinach again.

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Positions of the ADVP

#4: Before the main verb We might have begrudgingly eaten spinach. Popeye willingly eats spinach.

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Positions of the ADVP

#5: Sentence-finally He ate the spinach quickly. We ate the spinach, unfortunately.

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Positions of the ADVP

S NP VP VP
#1 DET

N #2 AUX #3 V #4 V
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NP #5
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S (ADVP) NP (ADVP) (AUX) (ADVP) VP (ADVP) ??

Positions of the ADVP

Not all classes of adverbs can occur in all five positions The boy has been petting the dog.

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Positions of the ADVP

With a manner ADV The boy has been petting the dog. *Gently the boy has been petting the dog.

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Positions of the ADVP

With a manner ADV The boy has been petting the dog. *Gently the boy has been petting the dog. *The boy gently has been petting the dog.

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Positions of the ADVP

With a manner ADV The boy has been petting the dog. *Gently the boy has been petting the dog. *The boy gently has been petting the dog. The boy has gently been petting the dog.

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Positions of the ADVP

With a manner ADV The boy has been petting the dog. *Gently the boy has been petting the dog. *The boy gently has been petting the dog. The boy has gently been petting the dog. The boy has been gently petting the dog.
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Positions of the ADVP

With a manner ADV The boy has been petting the dog. *Gently the boy has been petting the dog. *The boy gently has been petting the dog. The boy has gently been petting the dog. The boy has been gently petting the dog. The boy has been petting the dog gently.
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Positions of the ADVP

With a manner ADV The boy has been petting the dog. Conclusion: Manner ADV go best in positions 3, 4, 5 but not in positions 1, 2
WHY?
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Positions of the ADVP

S NP VP VP DET N AUX V V NP

Manner ADV modify V; must branch from VP

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Positions of the ADVP

S NP VP VP DET N AUX V V NP

Why cant they go before first AUX?

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Positions of the ADVP

S NP VP VP DET N AUX V V NP

Why cant they go before first AUX? Because branches cannot cross
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Positions of the ADVP

S NP

VP VP

DET

N AUX

NP

ADV in positions 1,2 branch from S

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Positions of the ADVP

ADV that branch from S The boy has been petting the dog. Unfortunately, the boy (attitude)

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Positions of the ADVP

ADV that branch from S The boy has been petting the dog. Unfortunately, the boy (attitude) The boy unfortunately has been petting the dog.

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Positions of the ADVP

S 1 NP the boy Attitude ADV are sentential ADV, modifying S 2 AUX has 3 V been V VP
But cant they appear in other positions, too?

VP NP 5

petting the dog

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Positions of the ADVP

S 1 NP the boy 2 AUX has 3 V been V VP VP NP 5

ADV of diff. types may have the same linear positions, but they will have diff. structures

petting the dog

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Positions of the ADVP

ADV that branch from S The boy has been petting the dog. Unfortunately, the boy (attitude) The boy unfortunately has been petting the dog. The boy has unfortunately been petting the dog.

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Positions of the ADVP

ADV that branch from S The boy has been petting the dog. Unfortunately, the boy (attitude) The boy unfortunately has been petting the dog. The boy has unfortunately been petting the dog. The boy has been petting the dog, unfortunately.
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Inaugural adverb flub

Roberts: I will __ execute the office of the Pres. of the U.S. faithfully Obama: I will execute (pause) Roberts: faithfully Obama: I will execute the office of the POTUS faithfully (From the US constitution: I will faithfully execute the office of the Pres. of the U.S. )
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Inaugural adverb flub

I will (faithfully)1 execute the office of POTUS (2) S NP N I AUX will (1) V execute VP NP (2)

the office of the POTUS

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Positions of the ADVP

The waiter carried the coffee carefully.

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Positions of the ADVP

The waiter carried the coffee carefully.
S NP DET the N waiter V VP NP ADVP
ADV carefully
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carried the coffee

Positions of the ADVP

S NP the boy AUX has 3 V been 4 V VP VP NP 5

3 = the boy has unfortunately been 4 = *has been unfortunately petting 5 = been petting the dog, unfortunately

petting the dog

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Positions of the ADVP

ADV that branch from S The boy has been petting the dog. Unfortunately, the boy (attitude) The boy unfortunately has been petting the dog. The boy has unfortunately been petting the dog. *The boy has been unfortunately petting the dog.
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