Nicole (everywastedkiss) wrote in linguaphiles,
Nicole
everywastedkiss
linguaphiles

Syntax help!

So, I'm taking a syntax course this semester and I'm having a slight amount of trouble. I was wondering if anyone can help explain a basic thing about constituents that I am missing and am somewhat embarrassed to ask in class because we've been doing it for a while.



I get the constituency tests, but I don't understand how to tell what is considered a constituent when looking at trees. I just don't quite get how far it can extend over.

Our recent homework assignments have been making arguments for two different syntactic hypotheses.

I feel like there's some essential thing that I'm just not getting and it's probably stupid. :X



Any help with this hugely vague question would be incredibly appreciated! TIA!
Subscribe

  • Yup, it's an Enya song question

    Okay, let's put it this way... like some 90s children, I grew up listening to Enya. For better or worse, I still totally possess some of her albums,…

  • Mystery advertisement

    I keep passing this car on my way to the supermarket and wondering what the non-English text on the sign says. I'm based in London, UK, so the…

  • Translation for Maybe Japanese?

    Hello linguaphiles! My in-laws recently gifted us with a folding screen, which has a cherry blossom design and some writing in what I'm guessing…

  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    Help
  • 11 comments

  • Yup, it's an Enya song question

    Okay, let's put it this way... like some 90s children, I grew up listening to Enya. For better or worse, I still totally possess some of her albums,…

  • Mystery advertisement

    I keep passing this car on my way to the supermarket and wondering what the non-English text on the sign says. I'm based in London, UK, so the…

  • Translation for Maybe Japanese?

    Hello linguaphiles! My in-laws recently gifted us with a folding screen, which has a cherry blossom design and some writing in what I'm guessing…