Constituency Tests Constituency Tests Diagnostics used to identify

Constituency Tests

Constituency Tests • Diagnostics used to identify the constituent structure of sentences. • The constituent structure of sentences is identified using constituency tests, which manipulate some portion of a sentence and based on the result, clues are delivered about constituent structure of the sentence. • Topicalization: the test sequence to the front of the sentence. will attend this course to improve his English he will attend this course. Moving He To

• Clefting: Placing a sequence of words under the focus. She bought a pair of gloves. It was a pair of gloves that she bought. • Pro-form Substitution: Replacement of the test constituent with the appropriate proform. I don’t know the man who is sleeping here. I don’t know him. *I don’t know him who is sleeping here. • Answer Ellipsis: The ability of a sequence of words to stand alone. What did you do yesterday? – Worked on a new project. What did you do yesterday? *– Worked on.

• Omission: Checks whether a sequence of words can be omitted without influencing the grammaticality of the sentence. The omitted sequence forms a constituent structure. Fred relaxes at night on his couch. Fred relaxes at night. • Coordination: Assumes that only constituents can be coordinated. He enjoys [writing sentences] and [reading them]. [He enjoys writing] and [she enjoys reading] sentences. [He enjoys] but [she hates] writing sentences.

• Passivization: The reordering of the sentence structure as a result of the shift in focus from the agent and his action to the patient and his role makes the constituent structures prominent because their internal structure remains intact. A car driving too fast nearly hit the little dog. The little dog was nearly hit by a car driving too fast.