TGG: overview
Introduction:
Transformational generative grammar (TGG) is a linguistic framework developed by the
renowned linguist Noam Chomsky. It is closely related to phrase structure grammar, as both seek
to understand the underlying structure of sentences. However, transformational grammar goes a
step further by introducing the concept of transformations, which are rules that convert the “Deep
Structure (DS)” or the “Structural Description (SD)” of an active declarative sentence (AD) into
its “Surface Structure (SS)” through a “Structural Change (SC)”. The deep structure represents
the input and the underlying syntactic relationships of a sentence (= meaning), while the surface
structure reflects the actual arrangement of words and phrases in a specific language or the output
(= sound). By employing transformations, TGG allows the derivation of different surface structures
found in natural languages.
TGG transformational rules:
1) Affix-hopping:
Affix Verbal element
Tense (M)
(-en) (have)
SD: X Y
(-ing) (be)
V
1 2 3 4
SC: 1 3+2 4
Definition: Affix-hopping refers to a morpho-syntactic process that involves the movement of an
affix from its original position to a new position within a sentence, specifically, after its succeeding
verbal element (in TGG context).
Rule type: Movement, obligatory
Illustration:
AD: The cat is sleeping on the couch.
SD: The cat1 present2 be3 -ing2 sleep3 on the couch4
SC: The cat be+present sleep+ing on the couch
SS: The cat is sleeping on the couch.
BY SENPAI
2) Passivization:
SD: NP1 aux V [+transitive] NP2
1 2 3 4
SC: 4 2 + be-en 3 by 1
Definition: Passivization is a syntactic transformation that converts active sentences into passive
ones by reversing the roles of the subject and object. Passivization serves multiple purposes,
including shifting the focus of a sentence from the doer (agent) to the receiver (patient) of the
action, which can be helpful when the agent is unknown or less important. It also creates a more
formal and objective tone in writing by removing explicit mentions of the agent, making it suitable
for scientific or technical contexts.
Rule type: Movement + insertion, optional
Illustration:
AD: John will have submitted the report before the deadline.
Passivization:
SD: John1 present will have-en2 submit3 the report4 before the deadline
SC: The report present will have-en be-en submit by John before the deadline
Affix-hopping:
SD: The report1 present2 will3 have3 -en2 be3 -en2 submit3 by John before the deadline4
SC: The report will+present have be+en submit+en by John before the deadline
SS: The report will have been submitted by John before the deadline.
3) Agent deletion:
SD: NP2 X be-en V by NP1
1 2 3 4 5
SC: 1 2 3 4 Ø
BY SENPAI
Definition: Agent deletion rule is a syntactic rule that allows the deletion or omission of the agent
(the doer of an action) in a passive construction. It is typically applied when the agent is either
unknown, unimportant, or can be inferred from the context.
Rule type: Deletion, optional
Illustration:
AD: The baker baked the cake.
Passivization + affix-hopping:
SS: The cake was baked by the baker.
Agent deletion:
SD: the cake1 past2 be-en3 bake4 by the baker5
SC: the cake past be-en bake Ø
Affix-hopping:
SD: the cake1 past2 be3 -en2 bake3
SC: the cake be+past bake+en
SS: The cake was baked.
4) Dative movement:
For
SD: X V [+dative] NP1 NP2
To
1 2 3 4 5
SC: 1 2 5+3 Ø
Definition: Dative movement, also known as dative shift, is a syntactic phenomenon observed in
some languages where the direct object (in the accusative case) and indirect object (in the dative
case) of a dative verb (ditransitive verb) can undergo movement or reordering.
Rule type: Movement + deletion, optional
Illustration:
AD: I gave a gift to my friend.
BY SENPAI
Dative movement:
SD: I past1 give2 a gift3 to4 my friend5
SC: I past give my friend + a gift Ø
Affix-hopping:
SD: I1 past2 give3 my friend a gift4
SC: I give+past my friend a gift
SS: I gave my friend a gift
5) Imperative:
Will
SD: You present VP
Shall
1 2 3
SC: Ø Ø 3
Definition: Imperative rule is a transformation rule that governs the transformation of a
declarative sentence into an imperative sentence. It allows for the change in sentence structure to
express commands, requests, or directives.
Rule type: Deletion, optional
Illustration:
AD: You shall open the window.
Affix-hopping:
SD: You1 present2 shall3 open3 the window4
SC: You shall+present open the window
SS: You shall open the window.
Imperative:
SD: You1 present shall2 open the window3
SC: Ø Ø open the window
SS: Open the window.
BY SENPAI
Note: For the imperative transformation rule, we apply affix-hopping as the first step instead. This is
because, during the structural change (SC), we delete the pronoun “you”, as well as the tense “present”
and the modal "will/shall". By applying affix-hopping between the tense (affix) and the modal (verbal
element). We solely ensures that the main verb remains tenseless.
6) Yes/No question:
M
SD: NP Tense have X
be
1 2 3
SC: 2+1 3
Definition: Yes/No question rule refers to a transformational rule in grammar that is used to form
yes/no questions from declarative sentences.
Rule type: Movement, optional
Illustration:
AD: I can help you.
Yes/No question:
SD: I1 present can2 help you3
SC: present can I help you
Affix-hopping:
SD: present2 can3 I help you4
SC: present+can I help you
SS: Can I help you?
Note: if “tense” is the only element within aux, it is necessary to apply the do-support rule (rule 9) as
the second step in order to form a question that adheres to grammatical correctness.
BY SENPAI
7) Wh-movement:
SD: Q X [+Wh] Y
1 2 3
SC: 2+1 3
Definition: wh-movement, or wh-fronting, is a syntactic process employed to transform echo
questions (Q) into wh-questions. This transformation involves the movement of the wh-phrase,
which consists of an interrogative word (e.g. who, what, when, where, which, etc) and may or may
not contain a complement, to the beginning or front of a sentence. By placing the wh-phrase at the
sentence's outset, the focus is shifted onto the interrogative element, emphasizing the inquiry
being made.
Rule type: Movement, obligatory
Illustration:
AD: I'm taking that girl to the dance.
Q: You are taking which girl to the dance?
Wh-movement:
SD: You are taking1 which girl2 to the dance3
SC: Which girl you are taking to the dance
Yes/No question:
SD: Which girl you1 present be2 -ing take to the dance3
SC: Which girl present be you -ing take to the dance
Affix-hopping:
SD: Which girl1 present2 be3 you4 -ing2 take3 to the dance4
SC: Which girl be+present you take+ing to the dance
SS: Which girl are you taking to the dance?
Note: if “tense” is the only element within aux, it is necessary to apply the do-support rule (rule 9) as
the third step in order to form a question that adheres to grammatical correctness.
BY SENPAI
8) Tag-question:
M
SD: NP Tense have (not) X
be
1 2 (3) 4
SC: 1 2 (3) 4 , 2#n’t + 1 [+pronominal]
Definition: Tag-question rule is a syntactic transformation that involves the insertion of a tag
question at the end of a declarative sentence to form an interrogative or confirmatory
construction.
Rule type: Insertion + substitution, optional
Illustration:
AD: Sarah is coming to the party.
Tag-question:
SD: Sarah1 present be2 -ing come to the party4
SC: Sarah present be -ing come to the party, present be #n’t she
Affix-hopping:
SD: Sarah1 present2 be3 -ing2 come3 to the party4, present2 be3 #n’t she4
SC: Sarah be+present come+ing to the party, be #n’t+present she
SS: Sarah is coming to the party, isn’t she?
Note: if “tense” is the only element within aux, it is necessary to apply the do-support rule (rule 9) as
the second step in order to form a question that adheres to grammatical correctness.
9) Do-support:
SD: Tense X
1 2
SC: 1#do 2
BY SENPAI
Definition: do-support (also known as "do insertion") refers to the phenomenon where the verb
"do" is inserted as a helping verb into a sentence to form questions, negations, or emphatic
statements in English.
Rule type: Insertion, obligatory
Illustration #1:
AD: He appreciates good music.
Yes/No question:
SD: He1 present2 appreciate good music3
SC: present+he appreciate good music
Do-support:
SD: present1 he appreciate good music2
SC: present #do he appreciate good music
Affix-hopping:
SD: present2 do3 he appreciate good music4
SC: do+present he appreciate good music
SS: Does he appreciate good music?
Illustration #2:
AD: John plays football.
Q: John plays what?
Wh-movement + yes/no question:
SC: What present John play
Do-support:
SD: What present1 John play2
SC: What present #do John play
Affix-hopping:
SD: What1 present2 do3 John play4
SC: What do+present John play
SS: What does John play?
BY SENPAI
Illustration #3:
AD: He likes ice cream.
Tag-question:
SD: He1 present2 like ice cream4
SC: He present like ice cream, present #n’t he
Do-support:
SD: He present like ice cream, present1 #n’t he2
SC: He present like ice cream, present do #n’t he
Affix-hopping:
SD: He1 present2 like3 ice cream4, present2 do3 #n’t he4
SC: He like+present ice cream, do #n’t+present he
SS: He likes ice cream, doesn’t he?
10) Complex NP shift
SD: X V NP [+complex] Y
1 2 3 4
SC: 1 2 4+3
Definition: Complex NP shift, also known as heavy NP shift, is a syntactic operation that involves
reordering a grammatically complex noun phrase (NP) to the right of its usual position.
Rule type: Movement, optional
Illustration:
AD: I gave the book that I bought last week to my sister.
Complex NP shifting:
SD: I past1 give2 the book that I bought last week3 to my sister4
SC: I past give to my sister the book that I bought last week
Affix-hopping:
SD: I1 past2 give3 to my sister the book that I bought last week4
BY SENPAI
SC: I give+past to my sister the book that I bought last week
SS: I gave to my sister the book that I bought last week.
11) There insertion:
SD: NP [-definite] Tense (M) (have-en) be
1 2 (3) (4) 5
SC: There 2 (3) (4) 5+1
Definition: "There-insertion" is a syntactic operation that involves the insertion of the existential
"there" at the beginning of a sentence, typically in the subject position. This operation is commonly
used in English to form existential sentences, where the existence of something is asserted or
emphasized.
Rule type: Insertion + movement, optional
Illustration:
AD: Children are playing in the yard.
There insertion:
SD: Children1 present2 be5 -ing play in the yard
SC: There present be children -ing play in the yard
Affix-hopping:
SC: There1 present2 be3 children4 -ing2 play3 in the yard4
SC: There be+present children play+ing in the yard
SS: There are children playing in the yard.
Note: When there is no existential verb (be, exist, occur etc.) in the sentence, we opt for the application
of the passivization rule before this rule in order to meet the structural requirements of the rule.
BY SENPAI
12) Reflexivization
SD: NPi aux V [+transitive] NPi
1 2 3 4
SC: 1 2 3 4 [+reflexive]
Definition: Reflexivization is a process in transformational grammar that involves the creation of
reflexive pronouns or reflexive constructions in a sentence. Reflexive pronouns are used when the
subject and object of a verb refer to the same entity.
Rule type: Substitution, obligatory
Illustration:
AD: Paul blamed him for the mistake.
There insertion:
SD: Paul1 past2 blame3 him4 for the mistake
SC: Paul past blame himself for the mistake
Affix-hopping:
SC: Paul1 past2 blame3 himself for the mistake4
SC: Paul blame+past himself for the mistake
SS: Paul blamed himself for the mistake.
BY SENPAI
