Syntax Review Flashcards

Flashcards covering key syntax concepts from LIN 316 lecture notes.

Constituent

A word or a group of words that function as a single unit within a hierarchical structure.

Head (Phrase Structure)

The main word in a phrase that determines the phrase's category.

Noun Phrase (NP)

A phrase whose head is a noun or pronoun.

Prepositional Phrase (PP)

A phrase consisting of a preposition and its object.

Verb Phrase (VP)

A phrase whose head is a verb.

Adjective Phrase (AP)

A phrase whose head is an adjective.

Adverb Phrase (AdvP)

A phrase whose head is an adverb.

Finite Clause

A clause containing a finite verb (a verb that shows tense).

Non-Finite Clause

A clause that does not contain a finite verb (e.g., infinitive, gerund, participle clauses).

Independent Clause

A clause that can stand alone as a sentence.

Subordinate Clause

A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence and is dependent on the main clause.

Embedded Clause

A clause that is contained within another clause.

Linking Verb

A verb that connects the subject to a subject complement (e.g., be, seem, become).

Lexical Word

A content word (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) that carries meaning.

Specifier

An element that precedes the head of a phrase and modifies its meaning (e.g., determiners in a noun phrase).

Complement

A phrase that provides information about the head of another phrase.

Premodifier

A modifier that occurs before the head of a phrase.

Transitive Verb

A verb that takes a direct object.

Intransitive Verb

A verb that does not take a direct object.

Ditransitive Verb

A verb that takes two objects, a direct object and an indirect object.

Complex Transitive Verb

A verb that takes a direct object and an object complement.

Phrasal Verb

A verb combined with a particle (e.g., up, down, out) to create a new meaning.

Prepositional Verb

A verb followed by a preposition that is required to complete its meaning.

Adjunct

An optional element in a sentence that provides additional information (e.g., time, place, manner).

Disjunct

An adverbial that expresses the speaker's attitude or opinion about the content of the sentence.

Cleft Sentence

A sentence that divides information into two clauses, one focusing on a particular element.

Existential Subject

The word "there" when it introduces the existence of something.

Determiner

A word that specifies a noun (e.g., the, a, this, that).

Post-positive

Placed after the word it modifies

Monotransitive Verb

A verb that takes one object