LANE 334: Syntax , Second Semester 2010 , Instructor: Dr. Shadia Yousef Banjar .

1. Adjective Phrase Adjective Phrase Fatima AmerAl.Saiari Fatima AmerAl.Saiari

2. Adjectives: Adjective (A) is a part of speechwhich modifies a noun, usually making its meaning more specific. Adjectives are sometimes called “describing words” in that, as far as meaning is concerned, they define attributes characteristics. Commonly occur with nouns. For instance, The dog chased a girl the dog could have the adjective fat added to it: The fat dog chased a girl Adjectives are used in: 1. an attributive manner (precede the noun for example: a long letter) or 2. a predicative manner (follow a linking verb for example: the letter waslong)

3. Adjective Phrase: An adjective phrase (AP) like all other phrases can consist of one or more than one word. For example, The fat dog chased a girl. The (very) fat dog chased a girl. The inclusion of an adverb phrase is optional, so that the constitution of an adjective phrase is: AP -> (AdvP) + A

4. AP AdvP A deg very fat When adjectives and adjective phrase work in this way to modify nouns, they form part of the noun phrase. NP = the fat dog It is, of course, possible to modify a noun with more than one adjective as in: The fat brown dog chased the girl.

5. FUNCTIONS OF ADJECTIVE PHRASES: Subject Complement: A subject complement (sC) follows a linking verb( be, seem, appear, look, and so on ); it is normally an adjective or a noun that renames or defines in some way the subject. For Example: Sally seems unhappy. S P sC S VP NP V AP N ]intense[ A Sally seems unhappy

6. 2. Object Complement: An object complement follows and modifies or refers to a direct object. It can be a noun or adjective or any word acting as a noun or adjective. Kate called John stupid S P dOoC S VP NP V AP NP N ]complex[ A N Kate called stupid John

7. 3. Pre-modifier within NP: Adjective phrase are also used to pre-modify nouns. The fat dog chased a girl S P dO S NP VP N’ DET Vgp NP ]trans[ AP N AUX V DET N A TENSE (past) fat The dog chased a girl

8. The phrase Structure Rule of an Adjective Phrase Adjective phrase (AP) AP -> (AdvP) + A Function: 1. sC 2. oC e.g. 1. The dog (quite disgustingly) fat 2. John made Kate angry OR: Function: pre-modifier within NP e.g. The fat brown dog chased a girl.

9. Thank You Fatima AmerAl.Saiari