I.

Replace the italicized constituent in the following sentences by an appropriate wh-word and give the
question that results from wh- and auxiliary-fronting. (1/P.382)
1. We shall feed the cat smoked salmon today. → What shall we feed the cat today?
2. He got to London by hitch-hiking. → By what did he get to London?
3. The man at the front was laughing. → Who was laughing?
4. A recidivist is a persistent offender. → How offender is a recidivist?
5. Lola showed up in dark glasses. → What did Lola show up in?
6. Tessa pocketed the fried egg because it was too greasy to eat. → Why did Tessa pocket the fried egg?
7. He cleaned his keyboard with his sister’s toothbrush. → Whose toothbrush did he clean his keyboard with?
8. Konrad suggested Lomax should be fired. → Who did Konrad suggest should be fired?
9. Sebbie thought Julia had said she would buy him a new buggy. → What did Sebbie think Julia had said she
would buy him?
II. Give Abbreviated Clausal Analyses of the following. (4/P.384)
For each subordinate clause, give its function. Place complementizers (C2 and C1) within the sub-clauses they
introduce, but don’t bother with S″/S′ – just use S. Prepositions, however, belong in the upper clause.

S2: modifier of NOM (books from the library).

1. I never understood how it worked until I read your book.
2. Why Max didn’t answer the accusation that he had cheated is a mystery.
3. Why Max didn’t answer the poor man that he had cheated is a mystery.
4. The acrobat, who is injured, is insistent that the high-wire is strengthened if it is used again.
III. Draw complete phrase markers for the following sentences. Use triangles for one-word and two-word
NPs/ APs/AdvPs. (P.369)
1. the conclusion that Mars was inhabited
2. the conclusion which Gomex disputes
3. The dogs, which are mammals, need treatment.
4. Triangles, which have three sides, are fascinating.
5. The books which John has consulted are outdated.
6. The books, which John has consulted, are outdated.
7. The dogs which have rabies are dangerous.
8. The dogs, which have rabies, are dangerous
9. Which books are you giving to Bill?
10. Who will Julia give the pen to?
11. To whom will Julia give the pen?
12. How quickly did he drink that beer?
13. How tall is Max?
14. How are you ?
15. Where did Lisa put it?
16. Martha enquired why he wore it on his foot?
 17. It is my affair what I wear at night.
18. The claim with which he ended his lecture.
19. A proposal that we should support.
20. A proposal that we should support the strike.
21. How much food should I give the dog?
22. Who do you consider your best friend?
23. Do you know where they put the glasses?
24. What is Vince taking to Athens?
25. She told me where we would have dinner.
26. Marcel wasn’t certain who he sent the flowers to.
27. He asked me whether I had put away the car key.
28. It is a mystery how Henry could pass the test.
29. His new house, which is on the beach, was designed by a famous French architect.
30. She had expected he would return the money he owed her.
IV. Identify the functions of the subordinate clauses in each sentence. Then, draw phrase markers for the
sentences. Use triangles for NPs, APs and AdvPs that have 1-2 words (e.g. a website, she, him, the
competition, immediately,….)
1. The question of whether they should set up a website was raised.
2. It is undeniable that he won the competition.
3. She made him aware that he had overstepped the mark.
4. Fortunately, it happened that the error was immediately identified.
5. Your suggestion that Max may refuse the invitation shows you don’t know Max.
6. In my opinion, students worried that they may fail the subject actually have better results.
7. The problem is that they cannot afford the risk that they may lose a large number of customers.
8. The exhibition closed once the museum manager realized the paintings were copies.
V. Draw complete phrase markers (without triangles) for the following simple sentences.
1. The company went bankrupt after many years of global success.
2. Contributions to the fund from unknown sources may not be accepted.
3. Is your brother still reading those crazy comics in the bath?
4. Unluckily, he didn’t meet anyone interesting at his brother’s birthday party.
5. Your essay on the evolution of humans must be written by hand in ink carefully.
VI. Draw phrase markers. (P.333)
1. Unless I’m gravely mistaken, you are King Kong.
2. Taxes are rising because the bankers need huge bonuses.
3. Drivers anxious that they had made mistakes complained.
4. She made him aware that he had overstepped the mark.
5. The consensus is that you should taste the stew first.
6. It was noticed by the critics that the book had a missing chapter.
7. It isn’t my fault Max crushed your monocle.
8. That the squid sauce was a mistake soon became clear.
9. Things will be rather dull if Hieronimo leaves.
10. Since you came.
11. The question of whether they should revamp the website was raised.
12. Sarah’s concerns about whether anyone had enough time were ignored.
13. It depends on whether the food arrives in time.
14. The fact that you received no greeting from Mars.
 15. The men seemed happy that they had not been chosen.
16. It seemed that she was restless.
17. Anna told him (that) his shirt was hanging out.
18. It surprised her that the king was in his counting house.
19. The fact that you receive no greeting from Mars doesn’t mean it is uninhabited.
VII. Draw ACA diagrams for the following complex sentences.
1. He reminded the men that he was in command at every opportunity.
2. He doesn’t know whether she will come back.
3. Whether they will succeed is hard to tell.
4. The fact that Robin got a promotion is upsetting.
5. The question that Robin wanted to ask was whether he could get a promotion.
6. I don’t think that the idea that Robin may get a promotion is upsetting.
7. The news that students don’t have to wear uniforms doesn’t mean that they can wear anything to school.
VIII. Give abbreviated clausal analysis (ACAs) of the following sentences. (c) and (d) contain two
subordinate clauses each. I’ve included all complementizers within the subordinate clause triangle.
Strictly speaking, this should mean that all subordinate clause triangles should be labeled S′ (S-bar)
but, to simplify, I’ve omitted the bar in my phrase markers and I suggest you do, too. Apart from the
main clause – always ‘S1’ – it’s not important how the clauses are numbered. (P.339)
SOME HINTS ON HOW TO DO THIS. First decide how many clauses there are. Do this by counting the
lexical verbs (one per clause). Then identify the main verb and everything associated with it in the main clause.
Draw the main clause triangle and label it ‘S1’. All the other clauses will be subordinate to S1 and hence below it (and
contained within it). Then deal likewise with subordinate clauses.
1. They did not suspect they were being observed at all.
2. That the ejector seat didn’t work was quite forgotten.
3. I don’t think the fact that the moped has an ejector seat is a great selling point.
4. Your suggestion that Max might refuse a second helping just shows you don’t know Max.
IX. Give ACAs of the following and give the FUNCTION of each subordinate clause. (P.339)
As in Exercise 1, put all complementizers/subordinating conjunctions within the SUBordinate clause
triangle. But don’t bother with S′ – just use S. Prepositions, by contrast, don’t belong in the subordinate clause. If in
doubt, remember that prepositions can take an NP complement but the subordinating conjunctions of adverbial
clauses can’t.
1. Until you mentioned it, it had not struck me that the book would make a good film.
2. I am surprised Rory has learned so much, because he’s usually asleep.
3. Once the prince had mounted, I knew the elephant would not budge.
4. The fact that you endorse Omar’s feeling that life is too short doesn’t imply you should get drunk every day.
5. It appears that the new chef thought he could slip away before the missing steaks were noticed.
6. If you are wondering whether Max is turning up, the rumour is that, since he’s getting married, he won’t be
in for a month.
X. Identify the underlined constituents as COMPLEMENT OR ADJUNCT (MODIFIER) in these NPs.
Answers are given in the book, p.264.
1. the famous writer of novels
2. that woman in the café
3. his love of syntax
4. their visits at weekends
5. a young applicant for the job
6. Magda’s emphasis on hard work
7. the destruction in April 1944
 8. the destructions of forests
XI. Draw phrase markers for the following phrases
1. Both students
2. Half Jim’s money
3. Jake’s father’s funeral
4. The tall guy’s shoes
5. More interesting ideas
6. Those few expensive fashion designs
7. The rather disgusting very old banana peel
8. That tall student of math in the hat
9. The personal assistant at the door
10. The boat’s sudden move to the left
11. An invitation to the palace from the Queen
12. The few remaining pieces of kitchen furniture
13. An expert in sentence analysis.
14. Those ten paintings of his garden by Monet.
15. More useful suggestions.
16. The dying king’s final message.
17. All Gulbenkian’s contributions to charity.
18. Some rather rude gestures and remarks.
19. Three large uneaten sausages.
20. The fe students.
21. A few students.
22. The two in the library.
23. That tall student of Maths in the hat.
24. The development of Calculus by Newton and Leibniz
25. The length of the first sentence in Proust’s novel.
26. The cost of a voyage to the Arctic.
27. A present for Lucy on her birthday.
28. That consignment of vaccines in April.
29. Those two very charming atomic scientist.
30. All those dusty gorilla suits.
31. The rapidly cooling food.
32. Magda’s emphasis on hard work.
33. Their visits at weekends.
34. Larry’s neat summary.
35. All mine.
36. All shoes.
37. Nam’s brother’s behaviour.
38. Some of the animals.
39. Someone in the crowd.
40. Anyone intelligent.
41. The chef responsible for the sauces.
42. A trip to the shop for more vegetables.
43. A trip to the shop in the village.
44. Some expensive roof maintenance.
 45. The one mistake.
46. Very many mistakes.
47. This new red car.
48. One from Poland.
49. One.
50. Larry’s neat summary of the article.
51. All the men.
52. The book’s cover.
53. John’s father.
54. Those trampolines.
55. Some mistake.
56. My address.
57. They.
58. Daisy.
XII. Change the sentences into passives, and then draw a phrase marker for these passives. Remember the
gap following the lexical verb in the phrase marker.
1. Bill made a brilliant picnic table.
2. Oscar feeds the cat smoked salmon.
3. The committee has voted for the president of the club.
4. His father left him a theater.
5. Joan placed her trophy in a prominent position.
XIII. Draw phrase markers for the following sentences.
1. Her hair has always been dyed a strange color.
2. I don’t lend my toothbrush to anybody.
3. Doesn’t Max ever sit quietly?
4. Could these words have been written by Simon ?
5. Was his article accepted and quickly published ?
6. Is she a teacher ?
7. They shouldn’t have slipped out for a chat.
8. Should we invite the boss or would that be misunderstood?
9. This exercise should have been made easier.
10. He may have been keeping quiet and minding his own business.
11. An expert in sentence analysis.
12. Those ten paintings of his garden by Monet.
13. More useful suggestions.
14. The dying king’s final message.
15. All Gulbenkian’s contributions to charity.
16. Some rather rude gestures and remarks.
XIV. Identify the major functions in the following sentences. Write the category of the verb and its
complement(s). Then draw a phrase marker for each sentence. You can use triangles for noun phrases.
1. The girl in the palace dyed her hair a strange colour.
2. The sedan-chair proved very useful.
3. Karen applied for a scholarship.
4. The witness for the prosecution disappeared.
5. The manager poured everyone a glass of wine.
6. His fish and chips turned cold and greasy.
7. Joan placed her trophy in a prominent position.
8. Bill waited for a big surprise.
9. Jim became a famous singer.
10. Oscar feeds his cat smoked salmon.
 11. We voted Alex the president of the club.
12. The noise drives me mad.
XV. Draw phrase markers for the following sentences.
1. Old Sam sunbathed beside the stream for three hours everyday.
2. He never believed in ghosts.
3. Murdstone brought the child up too strictly, in my opinion.
4. Few students worry about exams until the end of term.
5. They often sleep until 10.

The drunken recruits repeatedly tripped over the guy ropes until the early hours.

6. Interestingly, Matilda barely gets on with her new colleagues.

The drunken man repeatedly tripped over the ropes until the early hours.

He never looked back (adv) on his years at sea with much nostalgia, however.

7. It rained for three hours on the Continent last night.

Obviously, they were in the office for 12 hours every single day.

8. However, he found his lost suitcase quite easily.

9. Max and Adrian were having a really tedious conversation this morning.
10. Unfortunately, his new rotting compound quickly leaked into the foundations.
11. Several figures gingerly edged towards the precipice in full view of the police.
12. She ignored all those people in the studio. (ambiguous)
13. She kept all those people in the studio. (ambiguous)
14. They soon ran out of energy and for ten hours slept like babies.
15. The butler usually mopped up the crumbs after each course in the old days. (This will need careful attention
to the meaning in deciding what constituents each of the (three) adverbials is modifying.)
16. Time flies like an arrow but fruit flies like a banana. (Groucho Marx)
17. Nanny is being a nuisance again.
18. Millie will have filled the pool by tonight.
19. Andy has been on court for five hours now.
20. The cattle are being persecuted by flies.
21. Could this have been her famous purple wig?
22. Was this put in my pocket by you?
23. His article was accepted and quickly published.
24. Has Oleg been arrested?
25. Could Simon have written these words?
26. The boss was sent an anonymous letter.
27. Matilda had been quietly reading Simon a story.
28. You should have been writing that essay.
29. She has studied the menu.
30. Was Kubla extravagant?
31. Does Byron dance?
32. Was Byron dancing?
33. Byron didn’t dance.
34. Byron wouldn’t dance.
35. Otto was driven mad by the noise.
36. Max was fired by the boss.
37. They were going to India next week last week.
38. They have been complaining very loudly.
 39. That hippo could easily have killed me.
40. You should have written an essay.
41. Their spokesman’s pronouncements quickly landed him in gaol.
42. Buster admitted everything frankly.
43. Buster admitted everything, frankly
44. He will look up hopefully.
45. He will look up, hopefully. (Hopefully, he will look up.)
46. Frankly, Buster admitted everything.
47. Rather awkwardly, Max can only do the tango.
48. Between you and me, Helmut interfered
49. Max spotted those wildcats in the spring.
XVI. Identify the verb sub-category and the functions of the major elements in the following sentences,
using S, V, dO, iO, sP, oP, PC, aA and (for sentence adverbials) sA. (P.191)
1. That so-called music soon drove him mad.
2. Margaret and Michael celebrated their success with a bottle of champagne.
3. They were in the office for twelve hours every single day.
4. Incidentally, I sold your old vests to the museum for a small fortune.
5. The acrobats often sleep until ten o’clock.
6. They very quickly gave up, unfortunately.
7. Murdstone brought the child up too strictly, in my opinion.
8. Few students worry about exams until the end of term.
→ Check the answers to Exercise 1 (page 99) and then draw phrase markers for sentences (a)–(f), using triangles
where appropriate. As regards (e): it contains a preceding adjunct and a following adjunct and, as in intext Exercise
3, you must decide which of these adjuncts is the highest.
XVII. Decide on the sub-category of the V and the functions of the italicised constituents in the sentences
below. Some questions to ask: Does appear belong to one subcategory or more than one? Does appear
have the same sense in all cases? Are any of the sentences ambiguous?
Is (e) elliptical? (P.191)
1. Hieronimo appeared rather jumpy.
2. Hieronimo appeared a real tyrant.
3. Hieronimo appeared in a flurry of snow.
4. Hieronimo appeared in a dangerous mood
5. Hieronimo appeared.
XVIII. Let’s agree that (a) is ungrammatical but is supposed to mean the same as (b): (P.191)
1. *Tim went to the circus and Max did so to the zoo.
2. Tim went to the circus and Max went to the zoo.
Now try the following questions in order:
3. What string of words does did so replace in (a)?
4. What does the UNgrammaticality of (a) tell you
about the CATEGORY of the string it replaces?
5. Given your answers to (1) and (2), decide whether the PP to the circus is an adjunct or a complement of the
verb.
6. Given your answer to (3), how should we subcategorise go in (a)?
Look at the following two conversations between
Abe and Ben:
Abe: Where’s Maria? Ben: She went.
Abe: Great party, wasn’t it! Ben: Even Maria went!
 7. What do you suggest is the sub-categorisation of go in each of these uses?
XIX. The senses of discover in the following two sentences are quite different. (P.191)
a. Kelvin discovered the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics in his lab.
b. Max discovered rats in his lab.
The two senses correspond to two different verb subcategories. Draw phrase markers for (a) and (b) to reflectthis
difference. (Abbreviate ‘the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics’ to ‘the law’.)
XX. In the passage below, describe each italicized verb and give its form. Is it lexical or auxiliary (which
auxiliary)? Is it finite (which tense)? Is it a participle (which participle)? Is it a bare stem form? Don’t
miss the contracted forms.
For example, for the first verb: was – progressive auxiliary, past tense.
That morning, an untidy-looking man was waiting for Inspector Tremaine in his office. He had been drinking. The
chair had been pushed back and he was lounging on it as though he craved something more comfortable. Tremaine
recognised him as a suspect he’d questioned in connection with the Soho robberies. ‘Do you want something,
Dunmore?’, he asked coldly. Dunmore replied ‘Well, I’m not sure. Have you had a look at the papers today,
Inspector?’ ‘I can’t be reading the papers at this hour of the morning! I have a job, in case you hadn’t noticed.’ ‘Well,’
Dunmore drawled, ‘I could do you a favor. I might have something for you.’ ‘Oh yes? And what’s in it for you, I
wonder.’ Tremaine had been hoodwinked by Dunmore before.
XXI. Look at the phrase marker for the phrase “Animals from the zoo.”
Now draw a phrase marker for the following phrases

1. Busy fresh fruit markets

2. New central fruit markets
3. Gas appliances from Italy
4. Locally grown vegetable sales
5. Several very noisy newspaper sellers
6. Ten fully automatic deluxe hair dryers
7. Students doing chemistry in September
8. Students with long hair doing chemistry in September
XXII. Underline the coordinate structures. Then draw phrase markers for these coordinate structures.
1. For you and Pete
2. Now and in the future
3. Up and down the staircase
4. Moderately cheap and extremely nasty
5. He likes chocolate but he seldom eats it.
6. The driver stopped the car and offered them a lift.
XXIII. Identify the major functions in the following sentences. Write the category of the verb and its
complement(s). Then draw a phrase marker for each sentence. You can use triangles for noun phrases.
1. The girl in the palace dyed her hair a strange color.
2. The sedan-chair proved very useful.
3. Karen applied for a scholarship.
4. The witness for the prosecution disappeared.
5. The manager poured everyone a glass of wine.
6. His fish and chips turned cold and greasy.
7. Joan placed her trophy in a prominent position.
8. Bill waited for a big surprise.
9. Jim became a famous singer.
10. Oscar feeds his cat smoked salmon.
11. We voted Alex the president of the club.
12. The noise drives me mad.
XXIV. Draw a simplified phrase marker for the following structures.
1. Two very silly jokes
2. Members of the team
3. People from the rural area
4. No previous experience of syntax
5. She opened the squeaky door.
6. John considers visiting his aunt.
7. John considers visiting his aunt next weekend.
8. John considered visiting his aunt last weekend. (because the sentence is ambiguous, draw the phrase
marker that represents the following interpretation: Last weekend, he thought of visiting his aunt
sometime before the end of the month.)
XXV. Explain if the underlined sequences of words are constituents of the sentence. If it’s not, identify the
correct constituents. Refer to the appropriate test of phrases in your explanation.
1. Maria simply gazed at the traffic light she had demolished.
2. Everyone heads for the beach in August.
3. Roy put a silencer on the gun.
4. She attacked the man with the crutch. 5. He attacked the woman with the stick.

XXVI. Explain the ambiguity in the sentence by giving two different interpretations that correspond with
two different structures.
1. We need more interesting ideas.
2. He loves good food and wine.
3. She attacked the man with the crutch.
XXVII. Identify the major functions in the following sentences (subject, direct object, indirect object, subject-
predicative, object-predicative and prepositional complement). Identify the verbs and sub-categorise
them. Example: (P.153)

1. The girl in the palace dyed her hair a strange colour.

2. Hot air rises.
3. Luigi promised me his spaghetti machine.
4. The largest frying pan proved very useful.
5. Someone stole my contact lenses.
6. It sounds like a really good film.
7. The candidate’s answers amazed the examiners.
8. The committee nominated her Acrobat of the Year.
9. Oscar feeds his cat smoked salmon.
10. I like my curries as hot as you can make them.
11. This calls for a celebration.
12. The main witness disappeared.
13. The junta disappeared all its critics.
 14. He applied for a scholarship.
XXVIII. Decide whether the PP in the following is a complement of a DITRANS verb. If in doubt, have a look at
page 67 (P.153)
1. Leroy wrote several letters to Africa.
2. Leroy wrote several letters to the President.
3. Max took his dog to the station.
4. Max lent his dog to the Dramatics Society.
5. William baked a cake for everyone.
6. William baked a cake for Christmas.
7. Laura saved the money for a piano.
8. Laura saved a place for Martha.
XXIX. Using any of the following phrases, construct (1) a sentence in which smelled (or smelt) is an
intransitive; (2) a sentence in which it is transitive; (3) a sentence in which it is intensive. (I get five
sentences.) (P.153)
1. smelled/smelt
2. the nervous customer
3. Jim’s attempt at a stew
4. rather strange.
XXX. Using triangles for all major constituents (as used in this chapter), draw phrase markers for the
following. (P.153)
1. Nicholas felt strangely euphoric.
2. The local gallery lends us the materials.
3. They voted the Senator out of office.
4. A bucket of cold water revived that particular patient.
5. The Venetians submitted to Napoleon’s demands.
XXXI. Identify the subjects and predicates of the following sentences. Remember to apply the question
movement test in cases of uncertainty. (P.87)
1. No one has ordered my lovely prune-and-spinach stew.
2. Her memory for names was a constant source of amazement to him.
3. There are too many uninvited guests here.
4. Only two of the sky-diving team brought their parachutes.
5. It was Lydia who finally trapped the pig.
6. The fact that you received no birthday greetings from Mars doesn’t mean it is uninhabited.
7. That evening, the new arrival learned the Health and Safety Regulations by heart.
XXXII. Identify the category of the following phrases (as Noun Phrase, Verb Phrase, or ‘other’). (P.87)
1. installed for a small fee → VP
2. were being given away → VP
3. too far to drive in a day → AP
4. obsolescent washing machines → NP
5. five holidays at the Hotel Mortification → NP
6. which I had bought only the day before → OTHER
7. have made me determined to spend more money in future → VP
XXXIII. The string of more exciting ideas is ambiguous and needs a different structural analysis for each of its
two interpretations. Draw the two phrase markers, briefly indicating which interpretation goes with
which analysis.
XXXIV. Draw phrase markers for the following phrases: (P.87)
 1. young car salesmen
2. used car salesmen.
XXXV. The string ‘the old English history teacher’ has several different interpretations. Here are three
structural analyses: (P.87)

1. Which analysis corresponds with the interpretation ‘the old teacher of English history’?
2. Give the interpretations that correspond with the other analyses.
XXXVI. Decide on the functions of the bracketed constituents in the following sentences. (P.87)
1. Old Sam sunbathed [beside a stream]. → Aa (modifiers)
2. The [well-built] gentleman offered me a cigar. → Adjunct adjectives (pre-modifier of NOM)
3. People [in running kit] were coming from all directions. → Adjunct (post-modifier of NOM)
4. People in [running kit] were coming from all directions. → Complement of Prep ‘in’
You should not only give the function of the constituent but also indicate in respect of what other
constituent it has that function. You’ll find this easier if you first make sure you know the general structure of each
sentence (i.e. can identify the subject NP and the predicate VP). First decide whether the bracketed constituent
belongs within the subject or the predicate. Since constituents have their functions in respect of SISTER
constituents, a constituent within the subject can only relate to other constituents within the subject – and the
same goes for constituents within the predicate.