BASIC RULES ON SYNTAX

SENTENCES

- Must contain a noun phrase and a verb phrase

- May contain an auxiliary verb

PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES- determines the order of words or constituents in a phrase to ensure
correct grammar and thought in a sentence.

NOUN PHRASE

Noun Phrase Noun Phrase Noun Phrase

Determiner Noun Determiner Adjective Noun Adjective Noun

Noun Phrase

Noun

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

Prepositional Phrase

Preposition Noun Phrase

VERB PHRASE

Verb Phrase Verb Phrase

Verb Noun Phrase Verb Adverb

Noun Phrase Prepositional Phrase

PHRASE STRUCTURE TREES EXAMPLES

The runner with the shortest time won the race

 SENTENCE

Noun Phrase Verb Phrase

Verb Noun Phrase

Determiner Noun Prepositional

Phrase
Determiner Noun

Preposition Noun
Phrase

Determiner Adjective Noun

The runner with the shortest time won the race

STRUCTURAL AMBIGUITY
- Sentences that imply different meanings

Lexically Ambiguous
- Due to multiple meaning of word/s used in a sentence
Structurally Ambiguous
 - Due to the sentence structure in the syntax tree

The spy saw the cop with the binoculars

Interpretation 1: The spy used binoculars to see the cop

NP VP

Det N V NP

NP PP

Det N P NP

Det N

The spy saw the cop with the binoculars

Interpretation 2: The cop has binoculars

S

NP VP

Det N V NP

NP PP

Det N P Det N

The spy saw the cop with the binoculars