Syntax Word patterns

1
SyntaxWord patterns
2
Syntactic arguments

• Syntactic form
• Linear Sentence patterns
• Grammatical roles
• Phrase structure rules
• Hierarchical structure

• Syntactic functions
• Event schemata
• Semantic roles
• Energy flow

Homer preens DOING Agent Homer
3
Linear SequenceEnglish basic sentence patterns
(p.89)

• V1
• V2
• V3
• VCOP
• VCOMP
• VT-COMP

Intransitive Transitive Ditransitive
Copulative Complement Transitive-complement
1 argument (Subj)
2 arguments (Subj, DObj)
3 arguments (Subj, DObj, IObj)
2 arguments (Subj, Comp)
2 argument (Subj, Comp)
3 arguments(Subj, DObj, Comp)
4
S ? NP VP
NPs
VPs
Homer preens. Homer loves his blanket. Homer
throws the dog a bone. Homer is incredibly
sexy. Homer goes to the bar. Homer throws a bone
to the dog.

• V1
• V2
• V3
• VCOP
• VCOMP
• VT-COMP

5
S ? NP VP
NPs
VPs
Homer preens. Homer loves his blanket. Homer
throws the dog a bone. Homer is incredibly
sexy. Homer goes to the bar. Homer throws a bone
to the dog.

• V1
• V2
• V3
• VCOP
• VCOMP
• VT-COMP

NPs
AP
PPs
6
Basic English phrase structure

• S ?
• NP ?
• AP ?
• PP ?
• VP ?

NP VP (Det) (AP) N (PP) (Deg) A P NP (Aux) V
(NP) (NP) (PP)
(Aux) VCOP
VPCOP ?
APNPPP
7
Phrase Structure Rules

• X ? Y X is a Y
• X Y X precedes Y
• (X) X is optional
• X X iterates 1 - 8 Xs
• X X or Y
• Y

8
Phrase Structure Rules

• Hierarchy

S ? NP VP
Linear Sequence
9
Structural analysis
Lexical
Syntactic
NP
AP
N
A
black board
10
Phrase structureSyntactic analysis
NP
AP
N
Det
A
the
black board
11
Phrase structureSyntactic analysis
NP
AP
N
Deg
A
Det
the
black board
very
12
Sexy Homer
Homer is sexy
13
Linear SequenceSexy Homer
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
14
HierarchySexy Homer
NP
VPCOP
AP
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
15
HierarchySexy Homer
S
NP
VPCOP
AP
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
16
HierarchySexy Homer
Copular verb phrase
S
VPCOP
NP
AP
VCOP
Adj
N
Homer is sexy
17
HierarchySexy Homer
Copular verb phrase
S
NP
VPCOP
NP
N
VCOP
N
Det
Homer is a sexpot
18
HierarchySexy Homer
S
Copular verb phrase
VPCOP
NP
PP
NP
N
VCOP
N
P
Homer is in trouble
19
Linear SequenceThe preening Homer
Homer preens
20
Linear SequenceThe preening Homer
N
V
Homer preens
21
HierarchyThe preening Homer
NP
VP
N
V
Homer preens
22
HierarchyThe preening Homer
S
NP
VP
N
V
Homer preens
23
HierarchyThe preening Homer
Intransitive verb phrase
S
NP
VP
N
V
Homer preens
24
Linear SequenceThe loving Homer
Homer loves his blanket
25
Linear SequenceThe loving Homer
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
26
HierarchyThe loving Homer
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
27
HierarchyThe loving Homer
VP
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
28
HierarchyThe loving Homer
S
VP
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
29
HierarchyThe loving Homer
Transitive verb phrase
S
VP
NP
NP
N
V
Det
N
Homer loves his blanket
30
Linear SequenceHomers eating habits
The big bald guy eats crap
31
Linear SequenceHomers eating habits
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
32
HierarchyHomers eating habits
NP
NP
AP
AP
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
33
HierarchyHomers eating habits
VP
NP
NP
AP
AP
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
34
HierarchyHomers eating habits
S
NP
VP
NP
AP
AP
N
V
Det
N
Adj
Adj
The big bald guy eats crap
35
Structural ambiguity
I saw the man from the store.

• I was in the store, I looked out the window, and
  I saw the man from the store modifies saw.
• 2. The man is associated with the store, and I
  saw him from the store modifies the man.

36
Structural ambiguitySame linear sequence,
different hierarchy
S
S
VP
NP
VP
PP
PP
NP
NP
NP
NP
NP
Pro
V
N
P
Det
N
Det
V
N
P
Det
N
Det
Pro
I saw the man from the store.
I saw the man from the store.
37
Structural ambiguitySame linear sequence,
different hierarchy
S
S
VP
VP
NP
PP
NP
NP
NP
Pro
V
V
Pro
I saw the man from the store.
I saw the man from the store.
38
Structural ambiguitySame linear sequence,
different hierarchy
I saw the man from the store.
I saw the man from the store.
Patient
Patient
Location
39
Sentences

• Homer preens.
• Homer loves his blanket.
• Homer eats.
• Homer eats crap.
• The fat bald guy eats crap.
• The fat bald guy eats vast quantities of
  artery-hardening crap.
• The fat bald guy throws the dog a bone.

40
Verbs

• Homer preens.
• Homer loves his blanket.
• Homer eats.
• Homer eats crap.
• The fat bald guy eats crap.
• The fat bald guy eats vast quantities of
  artery-hardening crap.
• The fat bald guy throws the dog a bone .

41
Arguments
V1

• Homer preens.
• Homer loves his blanket.
• Homer eats.
• Homer eats crap.
• The fat bald guy eats crap.
• The fat bald guy eats vast quantities of
  artery-hardening crap.
• The fat bald guy throws the dog a bone.

V2
V1
V2
V2
V2
V3
42
Sentences

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone to the dog

43
Verbs

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone to the dog.

44
Arguments
VCOP

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

VCOP
VCOP
VCOMP
V2
VT-COMP
VT-C0MP
45
Semantic roles
Patient
Essive

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

46
Semantic roles

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

Patient
Essive
47
Semantic roles

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

Patient
Essive
48
Semantic roles

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

Agent
Goal
49
Semantic roles

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

Patient
Possessor
50
Semantic roles

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

Patient
Agent
Receiver
51
Semantic roles

• Homer is sexy.
• Homer is a nuclear-plant operations guy.
• Homer is in the kitchen.
• Homer goes to the bar.
• The collar belongs to Santas Little Helper.
• Marge bakes a cake for Maggie.
• Bart throws a bone at the dog.

Patient
Agent
Goal
52
Semantic Roles
Role Definition
Agent The entity that performs the action
Patient The entity undergoing the action the object of the experience
Experiencer The entity that experiences the state
Receiver The entity that receives something from the action
Essive Anything predicated by the (main) verb to be
Possessor The entity who possesses something.
Source The starting point for a movement
Goal The end point for a movement
Path The route over which movement happens

Time The time an event occurs
Location The place an event happens
53
Event schemata
Being Happening Doing Experiencing Having Moving T
ransferring
54
Semantic Roles
Role Event Schemata
Agent DOING, MOVING, TRANSFERRING
Patient BEING, HAPPENING, DOING, EXPERIENCING, HAVING, MOVING, TRANSFERRING
Experiencer EXPERIENCING
Receiver TRANSFERRING
Essive BEING
Possessor HAVING, TRANSFERRING

Source MOVING, TRANSFERRING
Goal MOVING, TRANSFERRING
Path MOVING, TRANSFERRING

Time ALL
Location ALL
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Simplex event schemata
Subject NP Patient Complement Essive

• Being
• Happening
• Doing
• Experiencing
• Having

E.g.s Homer is large. Homer is a safety
inspector. Homer is in the shower.
VCOP
Complements
Subjects
Essives
Patients
56
Simplex event schemata
Subject NP Patient E.g.s Homer fell. Homer
ages. Homer stumbled.

• Being
• Happening
• Doing
• Experiencing
• Having

V1
Subjects
Patients
57
Simplex event schemata

• Being
• Happening
• Doing
• Experiencing
• Having

Subject NP Agent E.g.s Homer eats. Homer
yells.
V1
Subjects
Agents
58
Simplex event schemata

• Being
• Happening
• Doing
• Experiencing
• Having

Subject NP Agent (Object NP Patient) E.g.s
Homer eats. Homer yells. Homer catches
Bart. Homer kissed Marge.
V1
V2
Subjects
Agents
Subjects
Objects
Agents
Patients
59
Simplex event schemata

• Being
• Happening
• Doing
• Experiencing
• Having

Subject NP Experiencer (Object NP
Patient) E.g.s Homer laments. Homer loathes
Flanders. Homer saw Chief Wiggum.
V1
V2
60
Simplex event schemata

• Being
• Happening
• Doing
• Experiencing
• Having

Subject NP Experiencer (Object NP
Patient) E.g.s Homer laments. Homer loathes
Flanders. Homer saw Chief Wiggum.
V1
V2
(Contrast Homer watched Chief Wiggum.)
Subjects
Objects
Experiencer
Patients
61
Simplex event schemata
Subject NP Possessor Object NP Patient E.g.s
Homer has three kids. Homer has a keen sense of
smell. Homer has chicken pox. Homer owns a
dog. Homer possesses a hatbox.

• Being
• Happening
• Doing
• Experiencing
• Having

V2
Subjects
Objects
Possessors
Patients
62
Complex event schemata

• MovingHappening/Doing
• Transferring

Simplex occurrence (Happening or Doing) with
explicit reference to motion. Start Source End
Goal Route Path
63
Complex event schemata

• MovingHappening/Doing
• Transferring

Simplex occurrence (Happening or Doing) with
explicit reference to motion. Happening
Source/Path/Goal Doing Source/Path/Goal
64
Complex event schemata

• MovingHappening
• Transferring

Happening Source/Path/Goal Subj NP
Patient Complements Source, Path, Goal
65
Complex event schemata

• MovingHappening
• Transferring

Happening Source/Path/Goal E.g.s Homer
staggered home. Homer staggered home from
Apus. Homer staggered home, down the sidewalk
from Apus.
66
Complex event schemata

• MovingHappening
• Transferring

Happening Source/Path/Goal
Homer staggered home, down the sidewalk from
Apus.
Patient
Source
Path
Goal
67
Complex event schemata

• MovingDoing
• Transferring

Doing Source/Path/Goal E.g.s Homer climbed
out of the window. Homer climbed up Mount
Splashmore from base camp to the summit. Homer
ran screaming across the back yard to Flanders.
68
Complex event schemata

• MovingDoing
• Transferring

Doing Source/Path/Goal
Homer ran screaming across the back yard to
Flanders.
Goal
Agent
Path
69
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having Moving
A complex schema already
Happening or Doing Source/Path/Goal
70
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having MovingHappening
E.g. Bart found a wallet. Homer won 1.76 from
the Springfield Lottery Corporation.
V2
VT-COMP
71
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having MovingHappening
VT-COMP
E.g. Homer won 1.76 from the SLC.
Possessor
Having
Possessor
Patient
Happening
Patient
Patient
Receiver
Goal
Moving
Source
Patient
72
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having MovingDoing
E.g. Homer sold the dog. Homer sold the dog to
Moe.
V2
VT-COMP
73
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having MovingDoing
E.g. Homer sold the dog.
Possessor
Patient
Having
Moving
Source
Patient
Doing
Agent
Patient
74
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having MovingDoing
E.g. Homer sold the dog to Moe.
Possessor
Patient
Having
Possessor
Moving
Source
Patient
Goal
Doing
Agent
Patient
Receiver
75
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having MovingDoing
E.g. Homer sold Moe the dog.
Possessor
Patient
Having
Possessor
Source
Patient
Moving
Goal
Agent
Patient
Doing
Receiver
76
Complex event schemata

• Moving
• Transferring

Having MovingDoing
E.g. Homer told his wife a story.
Possessor
Patient
Having
Possessor
Source
Patient
Moving
Goal
Agent
Patient
Doing
Receiver
77
Transferring
VT-COMP
V3

• Homer sold Moe the dog. Homer sold the dog to
  Moe.

Subject
D-Object
I-Object
Subject
Comp
D-Object
Possessor
Patient
Possessor
Possessor
Patient
Possessor
Source
Patient
Goal
Source
Patient
Goal
Agent
Patient
Receiver
Agent
Patient
Receiver
S
S
VP
VP
PP
NP
NP
NP
NP
NP
N
V
N
V
Det
N
N
Det
N
P
Homer sold the dog to Moe
Homer sold Moe the dog
78
Syntax

• The sentence
• the verb and its arguments
• the subject and the predicate phrase
• Event schemata
• simplex
• complex (simplex relocation)
• semantic roles