Structure of Structure of ComplementationComplementation

Meeting 6Meeting 6

Complement in NPSome Post-head dependents are complements of the head noun rather than modifiers.

Complements of N are typically PP or Clause which 'completes' the meaning of the head Noun.

My interest in your proposal

The professor's study of refugees

The lecturer's insistence on punctuality

His assertion that linguistics is fun

Their claim that linguistics is hard

Contrast between PP modifiers and PP complements

• Closer semantic and syntactic relationship between PP complement and head

Which small boy?

The small boy with the large dog

The small boy in the garden

The small boy on the fence

*Which reliance? Reliance on what/who?

Reliance on your ability/ on your uncle

Contrast between PP modifiers and PP complements

• PP modifier may be headed by any preposition

Which small boy?

The small boy with the large dog

The small boy in the garden

The small boy on the fence

• PP complement has restricted P (depending on head N)

Interest in what?

Interest in your proposal

*Interest with/by/on your proposal

insists on NP insistence on NP

relies on NP reliance on NP

worries about NP worry about NP

interests oneself in NP interest in NP

studies NP student of NP / study of NP

dislikes NP dislike of NP

loves NP love of NP/ lover of NP

VERB NOUN

Relationship between PP complement of N reflects relationship between corresponding verb and its complement.

Only one complement; multiple modifiers

The small boy [in the garden] [with his pet dog]

The small boy [with his pet dog] [in the garden]

*The student [of physics] [of theology].

Complement precedes modifier

The student [of physics] [with his pet dog]

*The student [with his pet dog] [of physics]

Functions in Adjective Phrase (AdjP)

• Head

• Dependents:

• Prehead Modifier (PrHdMod)

• Posthead Complement (Comp)AdjP

PrHdMod:AdvP Head:Adj Comp:PP

so very improbably keen on that movie

crazy about that movie

Functions in the Adverb Phrase (AdvP)

• head: Adv

• dependents:

• prehead modifier: AdvP

• posthead complement: PP / clause

more carefully than Jo

so very quickly that he fell over

quickly *than Jo/ that he fell over

PrHdMod: Head: Comp:

AdvP Adv PP/Clause

Functions in the Preposition Phrase PP• head: P

• Prehead modifier: AdvP

• Posthead complement: NP/PP

PP

PrHdMod:AdvP Head:P Comp:NP

straight though the intersection

almost right into the crowd

barely in the water

Summarizing functions of constituents of phrases:

• head

• dependents

Types of dependents:

• prehead

• determiner (in NP only)

• modifer

• posthead

• modifier

• complement

Functions in the Verb Phrase (VP)Functions in the Verb Phrase (VP)

Head: Head: VV Dependents:Dependents:

– Pre-head modifier: Pre-head modifier: AdvPAdvP– Post-head modifier: Post-head modifier: AdvP/PPAdvP/PP– (Post-head) complement:(Post-head) complement:

NP/PP/AdvP/clauseNP/PP/AdvP/clause

S

Subject:NP Tense:AUX Predicate:VP

The boy has run very quickly

head:V PtHdMod:AdvP

S

Subject:NP Tense:AUX Predicate:VP

The boy has very quickly run

PrHdMod:AdvP V

Types of Complement in the VP• Direct Object: NP

• Indirect Object: NP

• Prepositional Phrase Complement (PPC): PP

• Subject Predicative Complement (PCS): NP/AdjP

• Object Predicative Complement (PCO): NP/AdjP

Post-head modifiers in VP are often referred to as adjuncts

Direct Object (DO) Function in VPDirect Object (DO) Function in VP The direct object function is filled by NPThe direct object function is filled by NP

– The dogs chased The dogs chased the cats.the cats. If the direct object is a pronoun, the pronoun is in If the direct object is a pronoun, the pronoun is in

AccusativeAccusative case form. case form.– The dogs chased The dogs chased themthem. (*they). (*they)

In basic sentences, the direct object NP comes In basic sentences, the direct object NP comes immediately after the verb immediately after the verb – *The dogs chased [quickly] *The dogs chased [quickly] themthem..

Exception: if there is also an indirect object NPException: if there is also an indirect object NP– The boy bought [the girl] The boy bought [the girl] an icecreaman icecream..

Unlike PP complements in NPs and AdjPs the direct object (DO) NP is usually obligatory in English

The boy discovered the treasure.

The boy discovered it.

*The boy discovered.

The discovery of the treasure

The discovery

Indirect Object (IO) function in VPIndirect Object (IO) function in VP

Indirect object (IO) function is only filled by NPIndirect object (IO) function is only filled by NP

• IO follows V and precedes DOIO follows V and precedes DO

– I gave I gave my brothermy brother [a new bicycle]. [a new bicycle].

The IO pronoun is Accusative (or Reflexive)The IO pronoun is Accusative (or Reflexive)Accusative IO Accusative IO I baked I baked himhim a cake a cakeReflexive IO Reflexive IO I baked I baked myself myself a cakea cake

Preposition Phrase Complement in Preposition Phrase Complement in VP (PPC)VP (PPC)

a PP may fill a complement function in a VPa PP may fill a complement function in a VP It may be the only complementIt may be the only complement

– John relies John relies on his friendon his friend.. It may follow an NP (DO) complementIt may follow an NP (DO) complement

– John put [the book] John put [the book] on the tableon the table.. As with PP complements in an NP or AdjP, the As with PP complements in an NP or AdjP, the

choice of preposition is restricted by the verb.choice of preposition is restricted by the verb.– relies on/*in/*from; believes in/*on/*aboutrelies on/*in/*from; believes in/*on/*about

Subjective Predicative Complement Subjective Predicative Complement (PCS)(PCS)

PCS is filled by NP or by AdjPPCS is filled by NP or by AdjP PCS comes directly after the verbPCS comes directly after the verb The PCS describes an attribute or property of The PCS describes an attribute or property of

the referent of the subject NPthe referent of the subject NP

Compare:Compare:– The man saw The man saw a doctora doctor. (DO). (DO)– The man became The man became a doctora doctor. (PCS). (PCS)

– *The man saw *The man saw very cleververy clever. (DO). (DO)– The man became The man became very cleververy clever. (PCS). (PCS)

Another property of PCSAnother property of PCS If the PCS is a NP, it normally agrees with the If the PCS is a NP, it normally agrees with the

subject NPsubject NPThe gentleman is a lawyer.The gentleman is a lawyer.The gentlemen are lawyerThe gentlemen are lawyerss..*The gentleman is lawyers.*The gentleman is lawyers.*The gentlemen are a lawyer.*The gentlemen are a lawyer.

Only a limited set of verbs take an NP as PCS:Only a limited set of verbs take an NP as PCS:– be, become, seem, look, resemble...be, become, seem, look, resemble...

Tests to distinguish PCS from DOTests to distinguish PCS from DO

Test 1 - SubstitutionTest 1 - SubstitutionMarjorie looked Marjorie looked a fright.a fright.

PCS can be NP or AdjP. PCS can be NP or AdjP. DO can only be NP.DO can only be NP.

Can you replace the NP with an AdjP?Can you replace the NP with an AdjP?Marjorie looked Marjorie looked frightful /angry /very sad.frightful /angry /very sad.

Therefore - PCS.Therefore - PCS.

Tests to distinguish PCS from DOTests to distinguish PCS from DO

Test 2 - AgreementTest 2 - AgreementThe doctorThe doctor seems seems a nice man.a nice man.

PCS must agree with the subject.PCS must agree with the subject. DO does not agree with the subjectDO does not agree with the subject

The doctor saw The doctor saw a nice man/nice men.a nice man/nice men.

Can you make the NP plural?Can you make the NP plural?**The doctorThe doctor seems seems nice men.nice men.

Therefore - PCS.Therefore - PCS.

Objective Predicative Complement Objective Predicative Complement (PCO)(PCO) Similar to PCS in many respects, but a PCO Similar to PCS in many respects, but a PCO

describes an attribute of the DO of a sentence. describes an attribute of the DO of a sentence. We We consider consider himhim our leaderour leader..SubjSubj VerbVerb DODO PCOPCO

The PCO function is filled by NP or AdjP.The PCO function is filled by NP or AdjP.– We consider We consider himhim very trustworthy.very trustworthy.

An NP in the PCO function agrees in number An NP in the PCO function agrees in number with the DO phrase.with the DO phrase.– We consider We consider themthem our leaderour leaderss..

Distinguish PCO construction from Distinguish PCO construction from IO constructionIO construction

VP VP V NP NP V NP NPWe consider We consider himhim our leaderour leader.. (DO PCO) (DO PCO)We gave We gave himhim our leaderour leader. . (IO DO)(IO DO)

• Substitute AdjP for NP if PCOSubstitute AdjP for NP if PCO• We consider We consider himhim very stong. very stong.

• Cannot substitute AdjP for NP if DOCannot substitute AdjP for NP if DO• *We gave *We gave himhim very strong.very strong.

Distinguish PCO construction from Distinguish PCO construction from IO constructionIO construction

VP VP V NP NP V NP NPWe consider We consider himhim our leaderour leader.. (DO PCO) (DO PCO)We gave We gave himhim our leaderour leader. . (IO DO)(IO DO)

• DO NP and PCO NP agree in numberDO NP and PCO NP agree in number• We consider We consider himhim our leader. our leader. (singular)(singular)• We consider We consider themthem our leaders. our leaders. (plural)(plural)

• No number agreement between IO and DONo number agreement between IO and DO• We gave We gave himhim our leader/leaders.our leader/leaders.• We gave We gave themthem our leader/leaders. our leader/leaders.

Post-head dependents which are not Post-head dependents which are not complements in a VP are complements in a VP are adjunctsadjuncts

Adjuncts are never obligatoryAdjuncts are never obligatory Adjuncts modify some aspect of the possible Adjuncts modify some aspect of the possible

reference of the VP reference of the VP Different types of phrases can act as an adjunct Different types of phrases can act as an adjunct

in a VP in a VP (XP is an abbreviation for an (XP is an abbreviation for an unspecified type of phrase)unspecified type of phrase)

Adjuncts can be fronted to pre-Subject Adjuncts can be fronted to pre-Subject

Adjuncts

I left I left very quicklyvery quickly. . (AdvP)(AdvP)I left.I left.Very quicklyVery quickly I left. I left.

I saw John I saw John on Tuesdayon Tuesday. . (PP)(PP)I saw John.I saw John.On TuesdayOn Tuesday I saw John. I saw John.

Mary left Mary left the following daythe following day. . (NP)(NP)Mary left.Mary left. The following dayThe following day Mary left. Mary left.

Multiple adjuncts

Sue slept very badly in the plane on Tuesday after the meeting

I behave I behave very badlyvery badly. . (COMP:AdvP)(COMP:AdvP)*I behave ___. *I behave ___. (incomplete - opposite meaning)(incomplete - opposite meaning)

I put John I put John on the groundon the ground. . (COMP:PP)(COMP:PP)*I put John ___. *I put John ___.

Mary left Mary left her bagher bag. . (COMP:NP)(COMP:NP)*Mary left ____. *Mary left ____.

Santa depends Santa depends on Rudolph.on Rudolph. (COMP:PP)(COMP:PP)*Santa depends ___.*Santa depends ___.

Complements cannot be omitted (except in special cases)

Complements precede adjuncts John read [the book] carefully/in the lounge*John read carefully/in the lounge [the book].

Exception: 'Heavy' DO NP may follow an adjunct phrase

John examined (very) carefully [every single document in the safe].

Summary

Every phrase has a head

A phrase may have dependents

Dependents may precede or follow the head

Dependents with a close semantic and syntactic relationship with the head are complements

In some phrases (e.g., VP) complements may be obligatory

Dependents which are freely added to a phrase to modify the head are adjuncts