Syntax
Pavel Caha 4 Oct 2021
<□► < [S1 ► < -E *■ < -š ►      š Q, O
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Recap
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Ambiguity
(1)     black cab drivers
Ambiguity
(1)     black cab drivers
a.    drivers of black cabs
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Ambiguity
(1)     black cab drivers
a. drivers of black cabs
b. cab drivers who are black
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Ambiguity
(1)     black cab drivers
a. drivers of black cabs
b. cab drivers who are black
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Ambiguity
(1)     black cab drivers
a. drivers of black cabs
b. cab drivers who are black
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hit the dog with a hat
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hit the dog with a hat a.    the dog has a hat on
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hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. the hat is used to hit the dog
hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. the hat is used to hit the dog
with a hat
the dog
(2)
hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. the hat is used to hit the dog
hit    the dog the dog    with a hat
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(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
the dog
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hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
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(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
the dog
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(2)
hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
adverbial
hit    thing    with a hat
the dog    with a hat
the dog
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(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
event
adverbial
hit    thing    with a hat
the dog    with a hat
the dog
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(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
event
adverbial
hit    thing    with a hat
the dog     with a hat
the dog
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(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
event
adverbial
hit    thing    with a hat
the dog     with a hat
the dog
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(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
the dog
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(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
event
adverbial
with a hat
the dog
property
the dog     with a hat
(2)     hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
event
adverbial
with a hat
the dog
property
the dog     with a hat
(2)
hit the dog with a hat
a. the dog has a hat on
b. you use the hat
event
event
adverbial
hit    thing    with a hat
the dog
event
property
the dog     with a hat
► lines are called edges
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lines are called edges
at the end of each edge, there is a node
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1 2
2 3
► lines are called edges
► at the end of each edge, there is a node
► 1, 2, 3 are terminal nodes
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5 5
12 2 3
► lines are called edges
► at the end of each edge, there is a node
► 1, 2, 3 are terminal nodes
► 4, 5 are non-terminal nodes
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5 5
12 2 3
► lines are called edges
► at the end of each edge, there is a node
► 1, 2, 3 are terminal nodes
► 4, 5 are non-terminal nodes
► terminals dominated by a particular non-terminal form a constituent
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5 5
12 2 3
► lines are called edges
► at the end of each edge, there is a node
► 1, 2, 3 are terminal nodes
► 4, 5 are non-terminal nodes
► terminals dominated by a particular non-terminal form a constituent
► constituents are units of meaning
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Sentence structure
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Intuition
(3)     The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
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Intuition
(3) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(4) Parts of the sentence
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Intuition
(3) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(4) Parts of the sentence a.    subject (agent)
□ S
Intuition
(3) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(4) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
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Intuition
(3) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(4) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
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Intuition
(3) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(4) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
(8) But are you sure he will be thirsty already then?
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
(8) But are you sure he will be thirsty already then?
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
(8) But are you sure he will be thirsty already then?
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
(8) But are you sure he will be thirsty already then?
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality))
(7) He will pay for them later.
(8) But are you sure he will be thirsty already then?
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Pronominalization
► Constituents can be replaced by a pronoun
(5) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(6) Parts of the sentence
a. subject (agent)
b. object (patient)
c. adverbial (time)
d. predicate (event(uality)) ???
(7) He will pay for them later.
(8) But are you sure he will be thirsty already then?
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sentence
subject
Ppredicate? object
adverbial
the customer in the corner     will order     the drinks     before the meal
□ S
► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
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► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
(9)     The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
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► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
(9) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(10) a.    The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before
the meal (but the dessert, they will order later).
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► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
(9) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(10) a.    The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before
the meal (but the dessert, they will order later).
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► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
(9) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(10) a.    The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before
the meal (but the dessert, they will order later).
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► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
(9) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(10) a.    The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before
the meal (but the dessert, they will order later), b.    Before the meal, the customer in the corner will order the drinks.
► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
(9) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(10) a.    The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before
the meal (but the dessert, they will order later), b.    Before the meal, the customer in the corner will order the drinks.
► Constituents can 'move around' in the sentence
(9) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(10) a.    The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before
the meal (but the dessert, they will order later), b.    Before the meal, the customer in the corner will order the drinks.
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
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► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11)     The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal?
=
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal?
=
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal?
=
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal? b.    What will the customer in the corner order?
=
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal? b.    What will the customer in the corner order?
=
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal? b.    What will the customer in the corner order?
=
► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal?
b. What will the customer in the corner order?
c. When will the customer in the corner order the drinks?
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► Constituents can be given as a response to a question
(11) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(12) a.    Who will order the drinks before the meal?
b. What will the customer in the corner order?
c. When will the customer in the corner order the drinks?
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► Constituents can be joined by and (a co-ordinating conjunction)
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► Constituents can be joined by and (a co-ordinating conjunction)
(13)     The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
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► Constituents can be joined by and (a co-ordinating conjunction)
(13) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(14) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal.
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► Constituents can be joined by and (a co-ordinating conjunction)
(13) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(14) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal.
b.   The customer in the corner will order the desert before the meal.
□ s
► Constituents can be joined by and (a co-ordinating conjunction)
(13) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(14) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal.
b. The customer in the corner will order the desert before the meal.
c. The customer in the corner will order the drinks and the desert before the meal.
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► Constituents can be joined by and (a co-ordinating conjunction)
(13) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(14) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal.
b. The customer in the corner will order the desert before the meal.
c. The customer in the corner will order the drinks and the desert before the meal.
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► Under special conditions, constituents can be left out (elided)
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► Under special conditions, constituents can be left out (elided) (15)     a.    I bought two apples, and he bought three.
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► Under special conditions, constituents can be left out (elided)
(15)     a.    I bought two apples, and he bought three.
b.    I bought two apples, and he bought three apples.
□ S1
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(16)     Constituents can be
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Constituents can be
a.    replaced by a pronoun
26/54
Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
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Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
□  ►   4 fiP
Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
□ S1
Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
These tests can only show that something is a constituent.
□ s1
(16)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
► These tests can only show that something is a constituent.
► They cannot be used to show that something is not a constituent
□ S1
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(16)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
► These tests can only show that something is a constituent.
► They cannot be used to show that something is not a constituent
► One way implication: if a string has the property X, then it is a constituent
□ S1
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(16)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
► These tests can only show that something is a constituent.
► They cannot be used to show that something is not a constituent
► One way implication: if a string has the property X, then it is a constituent
► If a string does not have this property, we know nothing
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Handle with care
(17)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
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Handle with care
(17) Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
(18) I bought milk.
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Handle with care
(17)     Constituents can be
a.	replaced by a pronoun
b.	moved around
c.	provided as an answer to a question
d.	co-ordinated
e.	elided
(18)     I bought milk.
a.    What did you buy?
□ s
Handle with care
(17) Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
(18) I bought milk.
a. What did you buy?
b. Milk
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Handle with care
(17) Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
(18) I bought milk.
a. What did you buy?
b. Milk
c. Milk I bought
□ iS1
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Handle with care
(17) Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
(18) I bought milk.
a. What did you buy?
b. Milk
c. Milk I bought
d. Milk I bought
□ S1
The predicate
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► So far, there is no rule that targets the predicate will order
29/54
► So far, there is no rule that targets the predicate will order
► Is the predicate a constituent?
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► So far, there is no rule that targets the predicate will order
► Is the predicate a constituent?
► Well, no...
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Pronoun replacement
(19)     The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
30/54
Pronoun replacement
(19) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(20) He will pay for them later.
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Pronoun replacement
(19) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(20) He will pay for them later.
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Pronoun replacement
(19) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(20) He will pay for them later.
(21) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so before the meal he will first need a wine list.
□ S1
Pronoun replacement
(19) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(20) He will pay for them later.
(21) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so before the meal he will first need a wine list.
□ S1
Pronoun replacement
(19) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(20) He will pay for them later.
(21) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so before the meal he will first need a wine list.
(22) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so he needs a wine list now.
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Pronoun replacement
(19) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(20) He will pay for them later.
(21) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so before the meal he will first need a wine list.
(22) The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so he needs a wine list now.
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sentence
subject ?predicate?      object adverbial
the customer in the corner     will order     the drinks     before the mea
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sentence
subject ?predicate?      object adverbial
the customer in the corner     will order     the drinks     before the meal
□ i5"
event
event adverbial
hit    thing    with a hat
the dog
event
event
event
adverbial
event
adverbial
hit    thing    with a hat
order
the dog
before the meal
the drinks
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event
event
adverbial
order
before the meal
the drinks
event
anchored event
event
adverbial
will event
order
the drinks
before the meal event
order
adverbial
before the meal
the drinks
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(23)     The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so before the meal he will first need a wine list.
(23)
The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so before the meal he will first need a wine list.
anchored event
event
adverbial
order
before the meal
the drinks
The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so he needs a wine list now.
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(24)     The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal but in order to do so he needs a wine list now.
anchored event
will event
event
adverbial
order
before the meal
the drinks
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anchored event
subject
the customer in the corner event
order
adverbial
before the meal
the drinks
sentence
subject
anchored event
the customer in the corner    will event
event
adverbial
order
before the meal
the drinks
Movement
(25)     The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before the meal (but the dessert, they will order later).
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Movement
(25) The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before the meal (but the dessert, they will order later).
(26) Order their drinks before the meal, they will.
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Movement
(25) The drinks, the customer in the corner will order before the meal (but the dessert, they will order later).
(26) Order their drinks before the meal, they will.
(27) Order their drinks, they will before the meal.
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Order their drinks before the meal, they will.
(28)     Order their drinks before the meal, they will,
sentence
subject
?predicate? object
adverbia
the customer in the corner     will order     their drinks     before the mea
40/54
Order their drinks, they will before the meal.
Order their drinks, they will before the meal.
sentence
will order     their drinks     before the mea
□ S
Order their drinks, they will before the meal.
Order their drinks, they will before the meal, anchored event
will event event adverbial
er    thing     before the meal
their drinks
□ S
Order their drinks before the meal, they will.
(31)     Order their drinks before the meal, they will,
anchored event
will event
event
adverbial
order
before the meal
their drinks
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A: The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
B: Actually, I wouldn't be so sure that he will —.
ellipsis
(32)
A: The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(33)     B: Actually, I wouldn't be so sure that he will —.
sentence
subject
?predicate? object
adverbia
the customer in the corner     will order     the drinks     before the mea
44/54
A: The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
B: Actually, I wouldn't be so sure that he will —.
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(34) A: The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal.
(35) B: Actually, I wouldn't be so sure that he will —.
anchored event
event adverbial
order    thing     before the meal
the drinks
□ S1
Coordination
(36)     The customer in the corner will order the dessert and the drinks before the meal.
□ S1
Coordination
(36) The customer in the corner will order the dessert and the drinks before the meal.
(37) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
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Coordination
(36) The customer in the corner will order the dessert and the drinks before the meal.
(37) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
b.   The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
Coordination
(36) The customer in the corner will order the dessert and the drinks before the meal.
(37) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
b. The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
c. The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
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Coordination
(36) The customer in the corner will order the dessert and the drinks before the meal.
(37) a.    The customer in the corner will order the drinks before
the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
b. The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
c. The customer in the corner will order the drinks before the meal and accompany his guests into the dining room.
d. The customer in the corner will [ order the drinks before the meal ] and accompany his guests into the dining room.
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Coordination
(38)     a.    The customer will order the drinks before the meal and
is waiting for the wine list.
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Coordination
(38)     a.    The customer will order the drinks before the meal and
is waiting for the wine list, b.   The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
47/54
Coordination
(38)     a.    The customer will order the drinks before the meal and
is waiting for the wine list.
b. The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
c. The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
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Coordination
(38)     a.    The customer will order the drinks before the meal and
is waiting for the wine list.
b. The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
c. The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
d. The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
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The customer will order the drinks before the meal and waiting for the wine list.
(39)     The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
sentence
subject
anchored event
the customer in the corner    will event
event
adverbial
order
before the meal
the drinks
□ a
The customer will order the drinks before the meal and waiting for the wine list.
(40)     The customer will order the drinks before the meal and is waiting for the wine list.
anchored event
subject
the customer in the corner event
order
adverbial
before the meal
the drinks
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Conclusions
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Constituency diagnostics
(41)     Constituents can be
Constituency diagnostics
(41)     Constituents can be
a.    replaced by a pronoun
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Constituency diagnostics
(41)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
Constituency diagnostics
(41)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
□ s
Constituency diagnostics
(41)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
Constituency diagnostics
(41)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
□ s
Constituency diagnostics
(41)     Constituents can be
a. replaced by a pronoun
b. moved around
c. provided as an answer to a question
d. co-ordinated
e. elided
□ s
(42)
sentence
subject
anchored event
The customer in the corner
modified event
plain event
adverbial
order    object    before the dinner
the drinks
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References
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