English Morphology and Syntax
English Morphology and Syntax
English Morphology and Syntax
CONTENTS
Chapter 1: MORPHEME 4
1. Definition 4
2. Classification 4
2.1. Form: free and bound mophemes 4
2.2. Meaning: roots (bases) and affixes 5
3. Inflectional and derivational affixes 7
3.1. Inflectional affixes 7
3.2. Derivational affixes 8
4. Suffixal homophones 12
4.1. The inflectional morpheme {–er} comparative of 12
adjective
4.2. The verbal inflectional suffix { -ing} 12
4.3. The verbal inflectional {-ed pp} 12
4.4. The adverbial derivational suffix 12
5. Immediate constituents 13
6. Allomorphs 16
6.1. Definition 16
6.2. Kinds of allomorphs: 16
Chapter 2: WORDS 18
1. Definition 18
2. Classification 18
2.1. Simple words 18
2.2. Complex words 18
2.3. Compound words 18
Chapter 5: FORM-CLASSES 29
1. Nouns 29
2. Verbs 29
3. Adjectives 29
4. Adverbs 30
5. Uninflected words 30
Chapter 7: PHRASE 38
1. Noun phrase 38
2. Verb phrase 39
3. Adjective phrase 41
4. Adverbial phrase 42
5. Prepositional phrase 42
Chapter 8: CLAUSE 43
1. Noun clause 43
1.1. Words used to introduce noun clauses 43
1.2. Functions of noun clauses: 43
2. Adjective clause 44
2.1. Words used to introduce adjective clauses 44
2.2. Functions of adjective clauses: 44
3. Adverb clause 45
3.1. Words used to introduce adverb clauses 45
3.2. Functions of adverb clauses: 46
4. MODIFIERS IN VERB
PHRASES
10
1. COMPLEMENT
11
12
2 THE EXPLETIVE IT
13
EXERCISES
14
15
Chapte
r
TREE DIAGRAM
13
S= NP+VP
1. NOUN PHRASE
NP= det+N’
N’=N+Modifier
Modifiers a word
a phrase
a clause
1.1. PREMODIFIERS
16
Premodifiers may be
1.1.1. Adjectives:
NP
det N’
A N
A lazy boy
1.1.2. Nouns -
NP
Det N’
N N
A school boy
1.1.3. Participles
NP
Det N’
Pre.Part N
A crying girl
NP
Det N’
17
Past P. N
NP
Det N’
G N
A swimming pool
1.1.4. Adverbials
NP
Det N’
Adv N
A nearby school
NP
Det N’
Adj P N
18
NP NP
Det N’ Det N’
N PP N PP
Prep NP Prep
NP
N
Det N’
N
The way to school. The girl near the
door
NP
Det. N’
Adj. N PP
Prep NP
Det. N’
AP N
19
Adj.
The beautiful girl in the blue dress
20
N PPP
Prep P PP
Prep NP
Det N’
Adj N
N S
NP VP
V N
1.2.4. Adverbs
NP
21
Det. N’
N Adv.
A room upstairs
22
1.2.5. Adjectives
NP
Pro. Adj.
Something new
2. ADJECTIVE
PHRASE
S
NP VP
Pro. V AP
Degree Adj.
3. ADVERB PHRASE
S
NP VP
Pro. V AdvP
Deg. Adv
23
4. PREPOSITIONAL
PHRASE
PP
Prep. NP
Det. N’
N
VP ¼ Aux +V’
5.1. Verb phrase contents
Verb phrases come in a variety of shapes as listed below.
1. V alone
2. V + NP
3. V + PP
4. V + NP + PP
5. V + AP
6. V + AP + PP
7. V + NP + NP
8. V + Q
5.1.1. V alone
S
NP VP
Det. N’ V
24
25
5.1.5. V AP
S
NP VP
Pro. V AP
Adj.
She is nice
5.1.6. V AP PP
S
NP VP
Pro. V Adj.P PP
Adj. Prep. NP
Pro.
They are nice to us.
5.1.7. V NP NP
S
NP VP
Pro. V NP NP
Pro. Det. N’
N
26
S
NP VP
Pro. V NP NP
Pro. Det. N’
N
27
We can summarize all the phrase structure rules for the grammar of
English as follows.
S¼ NP VP
S’¼ complementiser + S
NP ¼ Det. N’
N’¼AP N’
N’¼N PP
or N’ ¼ AP N’
N(PP)
VP ¼ V (NP) (PP)
VP ¼ V S’
or VP ¼ V (NP) (PP)
S’
AP ¼ (Deg) A
PP ¼ P NP
28
Adv P NP VP
S
NP VP
Pro V Inf.P PP
Inf. NP Prep NP
Pro Det. N’
N
I want to thank you on behalf of these refugees
S
NP VP PP
Pro Aux V’ Prep NP
V NP N PP
Det. N
Delayed by the bad weather, the plane arrived one hour late
29
S= S1 Coordinating conjunction S2
S
S1 Co. conj S2
There was show going out, so they ask him some questions
30
S
NP=S’ VP
Comp S
31
32
EXERCISES
33
14. The basketball players chose Harry their captain for next year.
15. A little confused, she didn’t know how to answer the question.
16. His refusal to submit without a fight was very courageous.
17. With growing interest, he read the book I lent him yesterday.
18. If the club secretary wishes to contact the opposing team, he should
write a letter to the following address.
19. It was a plot to sell industrial secrets worth millions to the Duport
Company.
20. The weather having cleared up, we continue our game.
21. Most of the people I meet lead adventurous life.
22. It’s wasteful to leave these lights on when you’re not in the room.
23. He fell wounded by the arrow.
24. On the river bank sat little Robert, covered with mud.
25. You look attractive in either the blue sweater or the yellow.
26. If everyone is ready, we can begin to load the car.
27. The book that cost me a fine was The Castle.
28. Aspirin is probably the most useful medicine known to man.
29. The client whose stock he was handling died.
30. The judges thought his action a mistake.
31. Her boyfriend remained the best singer in the band last year.
32. The old man in the town often tells the neighboring kids many funny
stories.
33. The center passed the ball to the quarterback.
34. I haven’t yet had an opportunity to think over the proposals that were
made at the last meeting.
35. He hotly denied the rumour that was then being circulated.
34
36. He hotly denied the rumour that he had been visited by the police in
connection with recent crime.
37. The fact that he didn’t turn up shows that he was never really serious
about coming.
38. The articles to be sold include one of the Ravel’s manuscripts.
39. We were anxious to leave.
40. My ambition is to study in Italy.
41. To steal from the poor is inexcusable.
42. I enjoy running in the park.
EXERCISE 2. Draw trees for the following sentences.
1. After visiting Milan they decided that they must see Naples.
2. Although the patient seems much improved she will have to rest
quietly for a few more days.
3. During the years that followed these three men found their destinies
inextricably linked.
4. Aspirin is probably the most useful medicine known to man.
5. A century ago, it seemed unlikely that we would find a cure for TB.
6. I’ve had a cold for three weeks and I’m feeling miserable.
7. Our mode of life had to change when the baby was born.
8. The managing director was largely responsible for the collapse of the
company.
9. Ann went to Canada to visit relatives for a week and decided to work
there.
10. A girl spoiled by her mother is not a good roommate.
11. Our guests came on the week when I was housecleaning.
12. The migrant workers from Australia are trying to get any job they
can.
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13. The black pen that I accidentally left on the bus yesterday belonged to
my uncle’s sister.
14. Whether we are going for a picnic again is a question he is always
asking.
15. The basketball players chose John their captain for next year.
16. A tall college student in the class is playing chess with his close
friend.
17. I love the idea that grasshoppers can sing.
18. We scored the runs when we needed them.
19. It seems very likely that the proposal will pass.
20. That Sheila left early proves that she loves you.
21. I’ve done everything I can imagine to help Any get his life
straightened.
22. According to the manufacturer’s guarantee, I should return my new
camera to the factory in the event that it has something wrong.
23. Alexander nearly fainted when she learn that she had won the lottery.
24. He’s coming today in spite of the fact that I told him I didn’t want
him.
25. We will put off the picnic until next week, when the weather may be
better.
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IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
• Morphology: morphemes
• Bases and Affixes
• IC cut
• Words: Definition- Classification
• Processes of word formation
• Parts of Speech
• Syntax: Phrases
• Basic Sentence Patterns
• Tree diagram
ANSWER KEY
CHAPTER 1
1. play 1 play
37
2. date 1 date
4. hygiene 1 hygiene
5. weak 1 weak
7. man 1 man
9. keep 1 keep
38
1. replay again
2. manly like
4. unable not
5. cheapest most
6. inactive not
7. impossible not
8. malfunction bad
0. speaker -er
1. kingdom -dom 5. intervene inter-, vene
2. syllabic -ic 6. revise re-, -vise
3. idolize -ize 7. worked -ed
4. selective -ive 8. undo un-
39
40
un verb al iz ed
41
42
CHAPTER 3
43
8. bus omnibus
9. van caravan
10. chute parachute
11. cute acute
12. dorm dormitory
13. flu influenza
14. prof professor
15. ad advertisement
EXERCISE 2: Pronounce these acronyms and give their originals.
ACRONYMS ORIGINALS
0. RV recreational vehicle
1. UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization
2. OK Old Kinderhook
3. OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries
4. TOEFL Test of English as a Foreign Language
5. IELTS International English Language Testing
System
6. HOU HoChiMinh City Open University
7. WHO World Health Organization
8. UNICEF United Nations International Children’s
Emergency Fund
9. jeep GP= general purposes
10. laser light amplication by stimulated emission of
radiation
44
EXERCISE 4. Give the blends that result from fusing these words.
0. gasoline +alcohol gasohol
1. transfer + resistor transistor
2. automobile+omnibus autobus
3. escalade+ elevator escalator
45
46
CHAPTER 5
47
CHAPTER 9
48
49
11. The coach designated Jan the new manager of the team. 9
CHAPTER 10
50
51
CHAPTER 12
52
CHAPTER 13
53
54
VP/Pre/V-al
19. It was a plot to sell industrial secrets worth millions to the Duport
Company.
(P3) NP/SC/N-al InfP/S/N-al
20. The weather having cleared up, we continue our game. (P.7)
AbsP/ M/ Av-al NP/DO/N-al
21. Most of the people I meet lead adventurous life. (P.7)
AdjC/M/ Aj-al NP/DO/N-al
22. It’s wasteful to leave these lights on when you’re not in the room.
(P.1)
InfP/S/N-al PP/ M/ Av-al
23. He fell wounded by the arrow. (P6)
V/Pre/V-al PPP/M/ Av-al
24. On the river bank sat little Robert, covered with mud. (P.6)
NP/S/N-al PPP/M/ Aj-al
25. You look attractive in either the blue sweater or the yellow. (P.4)
PP/M/Av-al NP/OP/N-al
26. If everyone is ready, we can begin to load the car. (P.7)
AvC/ M/ Av-al Inf.P/DO/N-al
27. The book that cost me a fine was The Castle. (P.3)
Rel. Pro/ S/N-al NP/OC/N-al
28. Aspirin is probably the most useful medicine known to man. (P.3)
Adv/ M/ Av-al PPP/ M/ Aj-al
29. The client whose stock he was handling died. (P.6)
NP/ DO/N-al V/Pre/V-al
30. The judges thought his action a mistake. (P.9)
56
V/P/Val NP/OC/Nal
31. Her boyfriend remained the best singer in the band last year. (P.5)
A/M/Ajal NP/M/Adval
32. The old man in the town often tells the neighboring kids many funny
stories. .(P.8)
NP/OP/Nal NP/IO/Nal
33. The center passed the ball to the quarterback. (P. 7)
NP/S/Nal PP/M/Adval
34. I haven’t yet had an opportunity to think over the proposals that were
made at the last meeting. (P 7)
35. He hotly denied the rumour that was then being circulated. (P.7)
RelC/M/ Aj-al
57
36. He hotly denied the rumour that he had been visited by the police in
connection with recent crime. (P.7)
NC/Comp of N/N-al
37. The fact that he didn’t turn up shows that he was never really serious
about coming.
(P.7) NC/Comp of N/N-al
38. The articles to be sold include one of the Ravel’s manuscripts. (P.7)
Inf.P/M/Aj-al
39. We were anxious to leave. (P.1)
Inf.P/Comp of A/N-al
40. My ambition is to study in Italy. (P3)
Inf.P/SC/ N-al
41. To steal from the poor is inexcusable. (P.1)
Inf.P/S/ N-al
42. I enjoy running in the park. (P.7)
GP/DO/ N-al
58
Prefixes
59
60
61
Measurement prefixes
Negative prefixes
62
Suffixes
-able “fit for doing, fit for being done" as in agreeable, comfortable
-al (-ial, -ical, -ual) “having the property of" as in conjectural, fraternal,
sensual, analytical
63
-ish "to become like X" forms adjectives from nouns, as in churlish,
boyish, Irish, modish
-some “like, characterized by, apt to" forms adjectives from almost any
kind of stem, as in cumbersome, awesome, bothersome
-ance, -ence "state, act, or fact of" forms abstract nouns from verbs, as in
repentance, perseverance, emergence
-al "act of" forms abstract nouns from verbs, as in renewal, revival, trial
-ation “state of being X-ed" forms abstract nouns from verbs of four
types: those ending in -ify, -ize, -ate, and a few without endings (like
damn, inform). Examples: purification, organization, contemplation,
information
-hood “state of, condition of" forms abstract nouns from concrete nouns,
as in childhood, womanhood, priesthood
65
-ment "condition of being X" forms abstract nouns from verbs and
adjectives, as in advancement, treatment, abandonment,
amusement, merriment
-ness "state, condition, quality of" forms abstract nouns usual1y from
adjectives, but not verbs, as in bitterness, fairness, idleness,
deafness
-ant, -ent “one who" forms agentive nouns from verbs, as in agent,
defendant, participant
66
-ify “to cause to (be) X" forms a causative verb, as in purify, denazify,
sanctify, verify, amplify
-ize "to cause to be X' forms a causative verb from almost any stem, as in
popularize, legalize, plagiarize, miniaturize, weatherize
Miscellaneous suffixes
67
68
69