Chapter 3

Phrases

3.1    Introduction

The phrase is an intermediate level of organisation between a word and the clause. Phrases can be characterised partly by their external function and partly by their internal form. Table 3.24 gives an overview of typical external functions for the phrases discussed in this chapter.

Table 3.24: Typical external functions for phrases

    By “form” is meant the way the structure of the phrase is made up of other, smaller elements. Each phrase is made up of a HEAD word and any DEPENDENTs. The head word may be the only element of the phrase. A phrase is named after the word class of the head word.

3.2    Noun phrase (NP)

This section considers the internal form and external functions of noun phrases.

Table 3.25: Tag for bare noun phrase

3.2.1    NP heads and ellipsis

A constituent is STRUCTURALLY COMPLETE when not reduced by ellipsis. ELLIPSIS is the ommission of one or more elements that can be recovered or understood from the linguistic or situational context. All structurally complete noun phrases have a head word. Section 2.2 gives the list of tags for elements that can head noun phrases, including proper nouns and pronouns.

    As an example of noun phrase head ellipsis, consider (3.1), with its predicative noun phrase (NP-PRD2) lacking a head noun. In a context discussing siblings, Alan is understood to be the youngest sibling.

(3.1)

IP-MAT,NP-SBJ,NPR,Alan
IP-MAT,BEP;~Ln,is
IP-MAT,NP-PRD2,D,the
IP-MAT,NP-PRD2,ADJP,ADJS,youngest
ID,2_lucy_child_09_m23

While there is no additional marking to indicate the noun ellipsis in the annotation of (3.1), the overall structure gives this information, since there is a noun phrase projection that does not contain a head word.

3.2.2    NP dependents

A structurally complete noun phrase can consist of one head word (e.g. the pronoun we or the noun pizza), or it can consist of a head word with a number of dependents. Dependents modify the head word by adding information.

    Possible dependents include: determiners (e.g. the pizza), adjective phrases (e.g. healthy pizza), nominal modifiers (nouns which modify other nouns, e.g. vegetable pizza), and relative clauses (e.g. pizza that I made). It is possible to have multiple dependents. For example, (3.2) is a noun phrase containing determiner the, adjective phrase healthy, nominal modifier vegetable, head noun pizza, and relative clause that I made.

(3.2)

NP-SBJ,D,The
NP-SBJ,ADJP,ADJ,healthy
NP-SBJ,N,vegetable
NP-SBJ,N;@4,pizza
NP-SBJ,IP-REL,NP-OB1,RPRO,that
NP-SBJ,IP-REL,NP-SBJ,PRO,I
NP-SBJ,IP-REL,VBD;~Tn,made
ID,2_x_buffalo

    With both nouns (e.g. vegetable) and adjective phrases (e.g. healthy) able to act as modifiers in a noun phrase, other criteria is needed to distinguish nouns functioning as nominal modifiers from single word adjective phrases. For example, adjectives do not take number marking, while vegetable can be made plural (vegetables).

    A dependent in the NP can also be categorised according to its position in the NP:

• Determiners (D), quantifiers (Q), genitive noun phrases (NP-GENV), numerals (NUM), adjective phrases (ADJP), nominal modifiers (N or NS), and some adverb phrases (ADVP), occur before the NP head (e.g., the young printer's apprentice, the computer skills course, every day, about the first week in June).

(3.3)

NP-SBJ,D,The
NP-SBJ,ADJP,ADJ,young
NP-SBJ,NP-GENV,N,printer
NP-SBJ,NP-GENV,GENM,<apos>s
NP-SBJ,N,apprentice
ID,16_susanne_g07

(3.4)

NP-SBJ,D,the
NP-SBJ,N,computer
NP-SBJ,NS,skills
NP-SBJ,N,course
ID,10_a_fce_0101_2001_06

(3.5)

NP-SBJ,Q,every
NP-SBJ,N,day
ID,408_christine_t12

(3.6)

NP-FOC,ADVP,ADV,about
NP-FOC,D,the
NP-FOC,NUM,first
NP-FOC,N,week
NP-FOC,PP,P-ROLE,in
NP-FOC,PP,NP,NPR,June
ID,2_lucy_child_11_h29

• Single word non-finite clauses (IP-PPL) can occur before the NP head (e.g. a murmuring voice, validated data).

(3.7)

NP,D,a
NP,IP-PPL,VAG;~I,murmuring
NP,N,voice
ID,60_a_joyce_1914

(3.8)

NP-OB1,IP-PPL,NP-LGS,*
NP-OB1,IP-PPL,VVN;~Tn,validated
NP-OB1,N,data
ID,92_lucy_bnc_b35

• There are restrictions on the order of multiple pre-head constituents. For example, determiners (D) occur before adjective phrases (ADJP), e.g. some testable factual basis.

(3.9)

NP,D,some
NP,ADJP,ADJ,testable
NP,ADJP;@3,ADJ,factual
NP,N,basis
ID,30_lucy_bnc_b26

• Post-head modifiers in an NP include preposition phrases (PP; e.g. examples of good practise), relative clauses (IP-REL; e.g. pizza that I made), infinitive relative clauses (IP-INF-REL; e.g., more stuff to put in), non-finite clauses (IP-PPL; e.g. a business operator handling personal information), and empty operator clauses (IP-EOP; e.g. a natural resource , free for the taking).

(3.10)

NP,NS,examples
NP,PP,P-ROLE,of
NP,PP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,good
NP,PP,NP,N,practice
ID,23_lucy_bnc_b21

(3.11)

NP,ADJP,ADJR,more
NP,N,stuff
NP,IP-INF-REL,NP-OB1,*T*
NP,IP-INF-REL,TO,to
NP,IP-INF-REL,VB;~Tn.p,put
NP,IP-INF-REL,ADVP-CLR-DIR,RP,in
ID,186_christine_t16

(3.12)

NP,D,a
NP,N,business
NP,N;@3,operator
NP,IP-PPL,VAG;~Tn,handling
NP,IP-PPL,NP-OB1,ADJP,ADJ,personal
NP,IP-PPL,NP-OB1,N,information
ID,12_a_law_h15a119

(3.13)

NP,D,a
NP,ADJP,ADJ,natural
NP,N,resource
NP,PUNC,<comma>
NP,IP-EOP,NP-SBJ,*T*
NP,IP-EOP,ADJP-PRD2,ADJ,free
NP,IP-EOP,PP-CNT,P-ROLE,for
NP,IP-EOP,PP-CNT,NP,D,the
NP,IP-EOP,PP-CNT,NP,N,taking
ID,97_susanne_n11

• Some nouns select a post-head dependent that can be a single CP-THT clause (e.g., the fact that one can eliminate fear), or a single IP-INF clause (e.g., My wish to meet Samuel)

(3.14)

NP,D,the
NP,N,fact
NP,CP-THT,IP-SUB,C,that
NP,CP-THT,IP-SUB,NP-SBJ,D;_nphd_,one
NP,CP-THT,IP-SUB,MD;~cat_Vi,can
NP,CP-THT,IP-SUB,IP-INF-CAT,VB,eliminate
NP,CP-THT,IP-SUB,IP-INF-CAT,NP-OB1,N,fear
ID,42_susanne_g11

(3.15)

NP-SBJ,NP-GENV,PRO;_genm_,My
NP-SBJ,N,wish
NP-SBJ,IP-INF,TO,to
NP-SBJ,IP-INF,VB;~Tn,meet
NP-SBJ,IP-INF,NP-OB1,NPR,Samuel
ID,4_susanne_g12

• Some adjective phrases (often with their own dependents) can occur as post-head modifiers (e.g. something unusual, capital so vital for growth).

(3.16)

NP-SBJ,D;_nphd_,something
NP-SBJ,ADJP,ADJ,unusual
ID,59_lucy_bnc_b17

(3.17)

NP-OB1,N,capital
NP-OB1,ADJP,ADVP,ADV,so
NP-OB1,ADJP,ADJ,vital
NP-OB1,ADJP,PP,P-ROLE,for
NP-OB1,ADJP,PP,NP,N,growth
ID,62_susanne_g22

• Some adverb phrases can occur as post-head modifiers (e.g., everything else).

(3.18)

NP,Q;_nphd_,everything
NP,ADVP,ADV,else
ID,342_christine_t28

3.2.3    Noun phrase internal layer

When there is need for structure internal to the noun phrase annotation, NLYR is used.

Table 3.26: Tag for noun phrase internal layer

This occurs when either:

(i)

a nominal modifier is itself modified, or

(ii)

there is coordination within the noun phrase.

Section 3.2.4 illustrates (ii). Example (3.19) is a case of (i), with its adjective secondary a modifier of nominal modifier school.

(3.19)

NP-SBJ,ADJP,ADJ,Total
NP-SBJ,NLYR,ADJP,ADJ,secondary
NP-SBJ,NLYR,N,school
NP-SBJ,N,spending
NP-SBJ,PP,P-ROLE,in
NP-SBJ,PP,NP,NPR,Britain
NP-SBJ,PP;@5,P-ROLE,per
NP-SBJ,PP;@5,NP,N,pupil
ID,107_lucy_bnc_b41

Another example of (i) is (3.20) where a noun modifier occurs before an adjective phrase modifier:

(3.20)

NP-SBJ,D,The
NP-SBJ,NLYR,N,e
NP-SBJ,NLYR,PUNC,<hyphen>
NP-SBJ,NLYR,N,commerce
NP-SBJ,ADJP,ADJ,free
NP-SBJ,N,zone
ID,8_a_artb_4_a1_e1

Another example of (i) is (3.21) which has multiple noun modifiers that have nouns under NLYR layers:

(3.21)

NP,D,a
NP,NLYR,NUM,four
NP,NLYR,PUNC,<hyphen>
NP,NLYR,N,year
NP,NLYR;@3,ADJP,ADJ,part
NP,NLYR;@3,PUNC,<hyphen>
NP,NLYR;@3,N,time
NP,N,drama
NP,N;@5,course
ID,26_a_alresford

Yet another example of (i) is (3.22), with its preposition phrase modifier in aid of the nominal modifier grant.

(3.22)

NP,D,a
NP,NLYR,N,grant
NP,NLYR,PP,P-ROLE,in
NP,NLYR,PP,NP,N,aid
NP,N,program
ID,66_susanne_a08

This use of NLYR can be recursive:

(3.23)

NP,D,the
NP,NLYR,NLYR,NUM,2
NP,NLYR,NLYR,PUNC,<hyphen>
NP,NLYR,NLYR,N,score
NP,NLYR,PUNC,<hyphen>
NP,NLYR,N,year
NP,N,milestone
ID,62_susanne_a13

(3.24)

NP-OB1,NLYR,NLYR,ADJP,AJLYR,ADJP,ADJ,middle
NP-OB1,NLYR,NLYR,ADJP,AJLYR,PUNC,<mdash>
NP-OB1,NLYR,NLYR,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
NP-OB1,NLYR,NLYR,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,ADJ,upper
NP-OB1,NLYR,NLYR,PUNC,<hyphen>
NP-OB1,NLYR,NLYR,N,level
NP-OB1,NLYR,N,management
NP-OB1,N,personnel
ID,56_susanne_j22

Further scenarios for (i) are (3.25) and (3.26). These illustrate how an NLYR layer can be used to isolate noun phrase content for modification by a quantifier.

(3.25)

NP-PRD2,NUM,one
NP-PRD2,PP,P-ROLE,in
NP-PRD2,PP,NP,Q;_nphd_,every
NP-PRD2,PP,NP,NLYR,NUM,five
NP-PRD2,PP,NP,NLYR,NS,calls
ID,27_a_duplex

(3.26)

NP-PRD2,Q;_nphd_,all
NP-PRD2,NLYR,D,the
NP-PRD2,NLYR,ADJP,ADVP,ADV,really
NP-PRD2,NLYR,ADJP,ADJ,obvious
NP-PRD2,NLYR,NS,things
ID,136_christine_t31

Another example of NLYR use:

(3.27)

NP,D,the
NP,ADJP,ADJ,main
NP,NLYR,NPR,Swafford
NP,NLYR,PP,P-ROLE,to
NP,NLYR,PP,NP,NPR,Hardley
NP,N,road
ID,2_a_maptext

(3.28)

NP-OB1,D,the
NP-OB1,PULQ,<lsquo>
NP-OB1,NLYR,ADVP,ADV,Back
NP-OB1,NLYR,PP,P-ROLE,to
NP-OB1,NLYR,PP,NP,D,the
NP-OB1,NLYR,PP,NP,N,city
NP-OB1,N,movement
NP-OB1,PURQ,<rsquo>
NP-OB1,PP,P-ROLE,from
NP-OB1,PP,NP,NS,suburbs
ID,13_lucy_student_e95

(3.29)

NP,NLYR,N,State
NP,NLYR,N;@2,Highway
NP,NLYR,N,Department
NP,NLYR;@2,ADJP,ADJ,public
NP,NLYR;@2,NS,relations
NP,N,director
ID,49_susanne_a01

(3.30)

NP,D,the
NP,NUM,first
NP,NLYR,NUM,two
NP,NLYR,NS,games
NP,NP-TMP,D,this
NP,NP-TMP,N,year
ID,14_susanne_a12

3.2.4    NP conjunction

When the content of a noun phrase involves conjunction, all conjuncts, except the first, receive a CONJP projection. These CONJP projections are adjoined to the first conjunct under an NLYR layer.

Table 3.27: Tag for conjunction phrase

CONJP layers exist irrespective of the presence of an overt CONJ head, as illustrated in (3.31).

(3.31)

NP,NUM,four
NP,NS,rooms
NP,ADVP-LOC,ADV,downstairs
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,NP,D,a
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,NP,N,kitchen
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,D,a
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,hall
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,D,a
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,dining
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N;@3,room
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,D,a
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NLYR,NP,N,living
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NLYR,NP,N;@2,room
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,or
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,sitting
NP,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N;@2,room
ID,8_lucy_child_09_m59

Example (3.31) also shows how conjuncts can themselves contain conjuncts. Such LAYERED conjunction is easiest to identify when different coordinators are used at each level, as with and and or in (3.31). Placement choices with layered conjunction will have consequences for the meaning captured by the annotation when different coordinators are involved.

    If there is a CONJ that starts the sequence of conjunctions, then this initial CONJ is placed at the NLYR layer, as illustrated in (3.32).

(3.32)

IP-PPL-CAT,VAG,entrusting
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,NEG,not
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,ADVP-MOD,ADV,only
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,NP,NP-GENV,NP-GENV,PRO;_genm_,his
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,NP,NP-GENV,ADJP,ADJ,own
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,NP,N,life
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,but
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NP-GENV,NPR,Geoffrey
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NP-GENV,GENM,<apos>s
IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NLYR,CONJP,ADVP-MOD,ADV,as_well
ID,3_a_lob_n01

Example (3.32) also shows how an ADVP-MOD element can occur at the end of a conjunction sequence, in which case it occurs at the level of the prior conjuncts. An ADVP-MOD or ADVP-CNT can also occur before a conjunct, in which case it occurs at the CONJP layer of the conjunct it precedes, as illustrated in (3.33) and (3.34),

(3.33)

NLYR,NP,D,The
NLYR,NP,N,volume
NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
NLYR,CONJP,PUNC,<comma>
NLYR,CONJP,ADVP-MOD,ADV,perhaps
NLYR,CONJP,PUNC,<comma>
NLYR,CONJP,ADVP-MOD,ADV,even
NLYR,CONJP,NP,D,the
NLYR,CONJP,NP,NS,characteristics
NLYR,CONJP,NP,PP,P-ROLE,of
NLYR,CONJP,NP,PP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,bronchial
NLYR,CONJP,NP,PP,NP,ADJP;@2,ADJ,arterial
NLYR,CONJP,NP,PP,NP,N,blood
NLYR,CONJP,NP,PP,NP,N;@4,flow
ID,34_susanne_j12

(3.34)

PP-CLR,P-ROLE,in
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,NP,D,a
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,NP,ADJP,ADVP,ADVR,more
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,NP,ADJP,ADJ,severe
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,NP,N,problem
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,NP,PP,P-ROLE,of
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,NP,PP,IP-PPL,VAG;~I,flooding
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,CONJP,PUNC,<comma>
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,CONJP,ADVP-CNT,ADV,consequently
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,CONJP,PUNC,<comma>
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,environmental
PP-CLR,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,degradation
ID,6_lucy_student_e93

    In the cases of NLYR with coordination seen so far the NLYR itself forms the head of the overall noun phrase that contains it, with nothing else outside this complex head. It is also possible for a complex head involving coordination to itself be modified, as (3.35) demonstrates.

(3.35)

NP,D,the
NP,ADJP,ADJ,environmental
NP,NLYR,NP,NS,issues
NP,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NS,problems
NP,IP-REL,NP-SBJ,RPRO,that
NP,IP-REL,VBP;~Tn,face
NP,IP-REL,NP-OB1,PRO,us
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,ADV,today
ID,1_lucy_student_e13

(3.36)

NP,NP-GENV,NPR,Plymouth
NP,NP-GENV,GENM,<apos>s
NP,NLYR,N,hedgehog
NP,NLYR;@3,NP,N,rehabilitation
NP,NLYR;@3,CONJP,CONJ,and
NP,NLYR;@3,CONJP,NP,N,care
NP,NLYR;@3,CONJP,NP,N;@2,centre
ID,48_a_hedgehog

    The modifier of a head noun can itself involve noun phrase coordination internally, as (3.37) and (3.39) illustrate. In such cases there is an NLYR layer to introduce the modifier that immediately contains as its only daughter an NLYR layer that contains the coordination.

(3.37)

NP-SBJ,D,a
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,NP,N,mouse
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,keyboard
NP-SBJ,N,combination
ID,23_a_freedoom

(3.38)

NLYR,NP,ADVP,ADV,about
NLYR,NP,N,number
NLYR,NP,NLYR,NLYR,NP,NUM,two
NLYR,NP,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,or
NLYR,NP,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NUM,three
NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,or
NLYR,CONJP,NP,D;_nphd_,something
NLYR,CONJP,NP,PP,P-ROLE,like
NLYR,CONJP,NP,PP,NP,D;_nphd_,that
ID,365_christine_t08

(3.39)

NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,NP,ADJP,ADVP,ADVP,ADV,Even
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,NP,ADJP,ADVP,ADVR,more
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,NP,ADJP,ADJ,complex
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,NP,IP-PPL,NP-LGS,*
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,NP,IP-PPL,ADVP-MOD,ADV,obviously
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,NP,IP-PPL,ADVP-MNR,ADV,cortically
NP-SBJ,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,NP,IP-PPL,VVN;~Tn,induced
NP-SBJ,NS,forms
NP-SBJ,PP,P-ROLE,of
NP-SBJ,PP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,emotional
NP-SBJ,PP,NP,N,arousal
ID,4_susanne_j17

    Note how the conjuncts of the internal noun phrase coordination that is a head noun modifier in (3.39) actually contain respectively: only (i) an adjective phrase, and (ii) a participial clause. The level of noun phrase for these conjuncts is motivated by the need for all conjuncts of a conjunction to be phrases of the same type.

3.2.5    PRN inside noun phrases

(3.40)

NP-SBJ,NP-GENV,PRO;_genm_,its
NP-SBJ,N,coverage
NP-SBJ,PUNC,<mdash>
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,NP,N,fiction
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,biography
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,travel
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,NS,hobbies
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,popular
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,science
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP-SBJ,PRN,NP,NLYR,ADVP-CNT,ADV,etc<dot>
ID,82_lucy_bnc_b07

(3.41)

NP,NUM,ones
NP,PP,P-ROLE,in
NP,PP,NP,NLYR,NLYR,NP,N,export
NP,PP,NP,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
NP,PP,NP,NLYR,NLYR,CONJP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,domestic
NP,PP,NP,NS,markets
NP,PUNC,<comma>
NP,ADVP,ADV,particularly
NP,PRN,PP,P-ROLE,by
NP,PRN,PP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,German
NP,PRN,PP,NP,NS,manufactures
ID,71_lucy_bnc_b26

3.2.6    NP functions

The notion of function helps to establish how a given noun phrase acts as a single unit (constituent) regardless of its size. For example, as a noun phrase whose head word has multiple modifiers, (3.2) above occurs as a subject (NP-SBJ) in (3.42a) and as an object (NP-OB1) in (3.43a) in the same way as noun phrases with fewer elements are also able to occur with these functions, e.g, a noun phrase consisting of a head noun with definite article in (3.42b) and (3.43b), or a pronoun as the single phrase element in (3.42c) and (3.43c).

(3.42)

a.

(NP-SBJ The healthy vegetable pizza that I made) was delicious .

b.

(NP-SBJ The pizza) was delicious .

c.

(NP-SBJ It) was delicious .

(3.43)

a.

They loved (NP-OB1 the healthy vegetable pizza that I made) .

b.

They loved (NP-OB1 the pizza) .

c.

They loved (NP-OB1 it) .

    The examples of (3.44) show that the same noun phrase (that way) is able to take on various different functions depending on its contribution to the containing clause.

(3.44)

a.

(NP-SBJ That way) is completely wrong . [subject]

b.

Someone will discover (NP-OB1 that way) . [direct object]

c.

They will keep it (NP-PRD that way) . [predicative]

d.

He hurried (NP-DIR that way) . [directional]

e.

Just hold it (NP-MNR that way) . [manner]

    Section 4.3.4 lists node label extensions that indicate adverbial functions, all of which except -BNF and -COM can be used with NP. An NP can also take an adverbial function from occurring as complement of a preposition (such as of, to, with, at, by, etc.) (see section 3.5.4).

    An NP might also occur in the genitive construction, seen in section 2.2.5, with the tag of Table 3.28.

Table 3.28: Tag for genitive noun phrase

    An NP might be a vocative with the tag of Table 3.29, as in (3.45).

Table 3.29: Tag for vocative noun phrase

A vocative noun phrase is a noun phrase which directly addresses someone, e.g., Summers in (3.45) and Rebecca in (3.46).

(3.45)

FRAG,NP,NUM,One
FRAG,NP,N,thing
FRAG,PUNC,<comma>
FRAG,NP-VOC,NPR,Summers
ID,12_susanne_n12

(3.46)

IP-MAT,ADVP-CNT,ADV,so
IP-MAT,NP-VOC-DSC;{REBECCA},NPR,Rebecca
IP-MAT,NP-VOC-DSC;{REBECCA},NPR;@2,<name>
IP-MAT,NP-SBJ;{REBECCA},PRO,you
IP-MAT,VBP;~Tt,want
IP-MAT,IP-INF-OB1,TO,to
IP-MAT,IP-INF-OB1,BE;~La,be
IP-MAT,IP-INF-OB1,ADJP-PRD2,ADJ,famous
ID,419_christine_t06

See section 4.2.3 for discussion on NP-VOC in imperative sentences.

    Finally, an NP might be a reflexive with the tag of Table 3.30, as in (3.47).

Table 3.30: Tag for reflexive noun phrase

(3.47)

IP-MAT,NP-SBJ,PRO,we
IP-MAT,BEP;~cat_Vg,<apos>re
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,VAG;~cat_Vt,gon
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,TO,na
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,HV;~cat_Vt,have
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,TO,to
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,VB;~Tn,share
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,NP-OB1,PRO,them
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,NP-RFL,NLYR,NP,PRO,me
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,NP-RFL,NLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
IP-MAT,IP-PPL-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,IP-INF-CAT,NP-RFL,NLYR,CONJP,NP,N,dad
ID,267_christine_t09

3.3    Adjective phrase (ADJP)

This section considers the form and function of adjective phrases.

Table 3.31: Tag for bare adjective phrase

3.3.1    ADJP heads

The head of an ADJP is an adjective. The head adjective can be:

• plain (ADJ; e.g. big),
• comparative (ADJR; e.g. bigger), or
• superlative (ADJS; e.g. biggest).

3.3.2    ADJP dependents

Instances of ADJP can have various dependents which modify the head, such as adverb phrases (ADVP), preposition phrases (PP), or clauses.

• Adverbs modify the head to provide information about degree and commonly occur before the head (e.g. so important), although a few occur after (e.g. easy enough).

(3.48)

ADJP-PRD2,ADVP,ADV,so
ADJP-PRD2,ADJ,important
ID,4_a_goodwill

(3.49)

ADJP-PRD2,ADJ,easy
ADJP-PRD2,ADVP,ADV,enough
ID,152_a_wilde_1_1888

• Some adverbs as premodifiers, especially very and really, can be repeated (e.g. very very rude).

(3.50)

ADJP,ADVP,ADV,very
ADJP,ADVP;@2,ADV,very
ADJP,ADJ,rude
ID,455_christine_t21

• An NP can also act as a modifier in an ADJP (e.g. a bit more, aged sixty five years). Such an NP takes no function marking itself.

(3.51)

ADJP,NP,D;_nphd_,a_bit
ADJP,ADJR,more
ID,114_christine_t25

(3.52)

ADJP,ADJ,aged
ADJP,NP,NUM,sixty_<hyphen>_five
ADJP,NP,NS,years
ID,70_a_joyce_1914

• Dependents which typically occur after the head of an ADJP are PP (e.g. free from difficulty) and clauses (e.g. able to do that, unaware that certain information actually exists).

(3.53)

ADJP-PRD2,ADJ,free
ADJP-PRD2,PP,P-ROLE,from
ADJP-PRD2,PP,NP,N,difficulty
ID,56_lucy_bnc_b28

(3.54)

ADJP-PRD2,ADJ;_cat_,able
ADJP-PRD2,IP-INF,TO,to
ADJP-PRD2,IP-INF,DO;~Tn,do
ADJP-PRD2,IP-INF,NP-OB1,D;_nphd_,that
ID,53_lucy_bnc_b17

(3.55)

ADJP-PRD2,ADJ,unaware
ADJP-PRD2,CP-THT,IP-SUB,C,that
ADJP-PRD2,CP-THT,IP-SUB,NP-SBJ,ADJP,ADJ,certain
ADJP-PRD2,CP-THT,IP-SUB,NP-SBJ,N,information
ADJP-PRD2,CP-THT,IP-SUB,ADVP-MOD,ADV,actually
ADJP-PRD2,CP-THT,IP-SUB,VBP;~I,exists
ID,91_lucy_bnc_b35

• PP can also act as premodifiers in an ADJP (e.g. for the most part unproductive).

(3.56)

ADJP,PP,P-ROLE,for
ADJP,PP,NP,D,the
ADJP,PP,NP,ADVP,ADVS,most
ADJP,PP,NP,N,part
ADJP,ADJ,unproductive
ID,52_susanne_g13

3.3.3    ADJP conjunction

When the content of an adjective phrase involves conjunction, all conjuncts, except the first, receive a CONJP projection. This gives structure parallel to the conjoined NP structure of section 3.2.4, but with CONJP projections adjoined to the first conjunct under an AJLYR layer. CONJP layers exist irrespective of the presence of an overt CONJ head, as in (3.57).

(3.57)

IP-REL,BEP;~La,is
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,ADJP,ADJ,majestic
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,PUNC,<comma>
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,ADJ,courageous
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP;@4,CONJ,and
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP;@4,ADJP,ADJ,proud
ID,183_a_hedgehog

(3.58)

IP-REL,BED;~La,was
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,ADJP,NP,Q;_nphd_,all
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,ADJP,AJLYR,ADJP,ADJ,well
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,ADJ,good
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,CONJ,but
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,NP,D;_nphd_,a_bit
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,AJLYR,ADJP,ADJ,clunky
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
IP-REL,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,ADJ,horrible
ID,63_a_paulfellows

(3.59)

NP,NP-GENV,PRO;_genm_,his
NP,ADJP,AJLYR,ADJP,ADJ,craggy
NP,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,ADVP-CNT,ADV,yet
NP,ADJP,AJLYR,CONJP,ADJP,ADJ,handsome
NP,N,face
ID,109_lucy_bnc_c08

    Note that it is possible for a conjunct under AJLYR to be a PP, as in (3.60).

(3.60)

IP-MAT,BED;~La,was
IP-MAT,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,ADJP,ADJ,wide
IP-MAT,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
IP-MAT,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,PP,P-ROLE,in
IP-MAT,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,PP,NP,D,the
IP-MAT,ADJP-PRD2,AJLYR,CONJP,PP,NP,N,dirt
ID,10_susanne_a11

3.3.4    ADJP functions

ADJP can act as modifiers of a noun phrase head. In doing so, they are said to have ATTRIBUTIVE function. With the annotation, an attributive ADJP occurs without a tag extension, as in (3.61) and (3.62), since placement under NP unambiguously captures the attributive function.

(3.61)

NP-PRD2,D,a
NP-PRD2,ADJP,ADJ,good
NP-PRD2,N,swimmer
ID,1_lucy_child_12_f32

(3.62)

NP-PRD2,D,a
NP-PRD2,ADJP,ADVP,ADV,very
NP-PRD2,ADJP,ADJ,good
NP-PRD2,N,swimmer
ID,9_lucy_child_10_k11

    In a clause, an ADJP will typically have a PREDICATIVE function, marked with the tag extension -PRD(2) (see section 4.3.3), and with a PREDICATE POSITION after verbs that include BE, APPEAR, SEEM, SOUND, MAKE (e.g. The cookbook is practical, This description sounds familiar, It makes me uneasy).

3.4    Adverb phrase (ADVP)

This section considers the form and function of adverb phrases.

Table 3.32: Tag for bare adverb phrase

3.4.1    ADVP heads

The head of an ADVP can be:

• a plain adverb (ADV; e.g. far),
• a comparative adverb (ADVR; e.g. farther),
• a superlative adverb (ADVS; e.g. farthest),
• a WH-adverb that is the relative adverb of a relative clause (RADV; e.g. how, when, where, whereby),
• a WH-adverb (WADV; e.g. how, when, where, why), or
• an adverb particle (RP; e.g. up).

3.4.2    ADVP dependents

The structure of an ADVP is the same as that of an ADJP.

3.4.3    ADVP conjunction

Conjunction with an ADVP is the same as with an ADJP. With the annotation, CONJP projections are adjoined to the first CONJP-less conjunct under an AVLYR layer.

(3.63)

ILYR,NP-SBJ,PRO,I
ILYR,VBD,used
ILYR,NP-OB1,PRO,it
ILYR,ADVP-TMP,ADVP,ADV,about
ILYR,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,ADVP,ADV,once
ILYR,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,CONJ,or
ILYR,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,ADVP,ADV,twice
ID,548_christine_t27

    Note that it is possible for a conjunct under AVLYR to be a PP, as in (3.64).

(3.64)

NP,D;_nphd_,those
NP,IP-REL,NP-SBJ,RPRO,who
NP,IP-REL,HVP;~cat_Ve,have
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,ADVP,ADV,never
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,PUNC,<comma>
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,CONJ,or
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,NEG,not
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,PP,P-ROLE,for
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,PP,NP,D,a
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,PP,NP,ADJP,ADJ,long
NP,IP-REL,ADVP-TMP,AVLYR,CONJP,PP,NP,N,time
NP,IP-REL,PUNC,<comma>
NP,IP-REL,IP-PPL-CAT,HVN,had
NP,IP-REL,IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,ADJP,ADJ;_such_,such
NP,IP-REL,IP-PPL-CAT,NP-OB1,NS,problems
ID,5_susanne_a04

(3.65)

IP-PPL-CAT,VAG,referring
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,NEG,not
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,PP-CLR,ADVP-MOD,ADV,only
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,PP-CLR,P-ROLE,to
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,PP-CLR,NP,D,the
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,PP-CLR,NP,ADJP,ADJ,general
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,PP-CLR,NP,N,college
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,PP-CLR,NP,N;@4,situation
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,CONJP,CONJ,but
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-CLR,ADVP-MOD,ADVP,ADVR,more,
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-CLR,ADVP-MOD,ADV,especially
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-CLR,P-ROLE,to
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-CLR,NP,D,the
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-CLR,NP,ADJP,ADJ,preparatory
IP-PPL-CAT,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-CLR,NP,NS,schools
ID,91_susanne_g17

3.4.4    ADVP functions

Adverb phrases are able to modify adjectives (e.g. totally disgusting), and verbs (e.g. strongly supported). Adverb phrases can also modify preposition phrases (e.g. far up the valley), noun phrases (e.g. nearly a decade), adverb phrases (e.g. Quite often), and clauses (e.g. of_course you can).

(3.66)

ADJP-PRD,ADVP,ADV,totally
ADJP-PRD,ADJ,disgusting
ID,89_christine_t19

(3.67)

IP-PPL,ADVP-MNR,ADV,strongly,
IP-PPL,VVN;~Tn,supported
ID,71_susanne_n11

(3.68)

PP-LOC,ADVP-DIR,ADV,Far
PP-LOC,P-ROLE,up
PP-LOC,NP,D,the
PP-LOC,NP,N,valley
ID,116_susanne_n04

(3.69)

PP-CNT,ADVP-MOD,AVLYR,ADVP,ADV,purely
PP-CNT,ADVP-MOD,AVLYR,CONJP,CONJ,and
PP-CNT,ADVP-MOD,AVLYR,CONJP,ADVP,ADV,simply
PP-CNT,P-ROLE,for
PP-CNT,NP,D,the
PP-CNT,NP,N,money
ID,491_christine_t29

(3.70)

NP,ADVP,ADV,nearly
NP,D,a
NP,N,decade
ID,81_lucy_bnc_b37

(3.71)

ADVP-TMP,ADVP,ADV,Quite
ADVP-TMP,ADV,often
ID,18_susanne_j10

(3.72)

IP-MAT,ADVP-MOD,ADV,of_course
IP-MAT,NP-SBJ,PRO,you
IP-MAT,MD;~cat_Vi,can
ID,258_christine_t04

    Instances of ADVP function in the clause as adverbials. Section 4.3.4 lists node label extensions that indicate adverbial functions, all of which except -BNF can be used with ADVP. For example, the adverb phrase in (3.73) has directional function.

(3.73)

IP-INF-CAT,VB;~Ip,go,
IP-INF-CAT,ADVP-CLR-DIR,ADVP,ADVP,RP,on
IP-INF-CAT,ADVP-CLR-DIR,ADVP,RP,up,
IP-INF-CAT,ADVP-CLR-DIR,ADV,there
ID,302_christine_t40

    Adverbials can occur with selected functions -OB1 (direct object) and -PRD(2) (predicative).

(3.74)

IP-MAT,NP-SBJ,PRO,it
IP-MAT,VBP,takes
IP-MAT,NP-OB1,ADVP,ADVP,ADV,so
IP-MAT,NP-OB1,ADVP,ADV,long
ID,99_christine_t04

(3.75)

IP-MAT,NP-SBJ,D,the
IP-MAT,NP-SBJ,N,game
IP-MAT,BEP,<apos>s
IP-MAT,ADVP-PRD2,RP,over
ID,404_christine_t24

3.5    Preposition phrase (PP)

This section considers the form and function of preposition phrases.

3.5.1    PP heads

A preposition phrase (PP) has a preposition word (P-ROLE) as its head and this is usually followed by a noun phrase (e.g. on the table). Some prepositions consist of more than one word and are called multi-word (or complex) prepositions. For example, adjacent_to, in_front_of.

3.5.2    PP dependents

The other phrase types of this chapter (NP, ADJP, and ADVP) can contain only the head word. A preposition phrase (PP) is different: There is normally a dependent. This happens because prepositions generally require a following noun phrase (NP) or clause (IP). When the dependent of a phrase is a necessary presence, the dependent is called a COMPLEMENT. For example, the PP out_of the box contains the preposition head word out_of and the NP complement the box, to give the structure of (3.76).

(3.76)

PP-DIR,P-ROLE,out_of
PP-DIR,NP,D,the
PP-DIR,NP,N,box
ID,215_x_textbook_kisonihongo

3.5.3    PP conjunction

Table 3.33: Tag for bare preposition phrase

Instances of PP are conjoined at the top level of their structure.

(3.77)

IP-MAT,PP-NIM,PP-DIR,P-ROLE,Across
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,PP-DIR,NP,D,the
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,PP-DIR,NP,NPR,Commonwealth
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,CONJP,CONJ,and
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-DIR,P-ROLE,around
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-DIR,NP,D,the
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-DIR,NP,N,world
IP-MAT,PUNC,<comma>
ID,11_a_queen_broadcast

(3.78)

ADJP-PRD2,ADJ,skilled
ADJP-PRD2,PP,NEG,not
ADJP-PRD2,PP,ADVP-MOD,ADV,merely
ADJP-PRD2,PP,PP,P-ROLE,at
ADJP-PRD2,PP,PP,NP,N,response
ADJP-PRD2,PP,CONJP,CONJ,but
ADJP-PRD2,PP,CONJP,ADVP-MOD,ADV,also
ADJP-PRD2,PP,CONJP,PP,P-ROLE,at
ADJP-PRD2,PP,CONJP,PP,NP,N,projection
ID,70_susanne_j22

(3.79)

IP-INF,PUNC,<comma>
IP-INF,PP-NIM,PP-CNT,P-ROLE,in
IP-INF,PP-NIM,PP-CNT,NP,NS,cases
IP-INF,PP-NIM,PP-CNT,NP,IP-PPL,VAG,involving
IP-INF,PP-NIM,PP-CNT,NP,IP-PPL,NP-OB1,ADJP,ADJ,imprisonable
IP-INF,PP-NIM,PP-CNT,NP,IP-PPL,NP-OB1,NS,offences
IP-INF,PP-NIM,PUNC,<comma>
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,CONJ,and
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,ADVP-MOD,ADV,even
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,ADVP-MOD,PP,*ICH*-189
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-CNT,P-ROLE,in_connection_with
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-CNT,NP,ADJP,ADJ,non_<hyphen>_imprisonable
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-CNT,NP,NS,offences
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-EPD-189,P-ROLE,in
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-EPD-189,NP,ADJP,ADJ,exceptional
IP-INF,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-EPD-189,NP,NS,cases
ID,2_lucy_bnc_b34

(3.80)

IP-MAT,PUNC,;
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,CONJ,either
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,PP-RST,ADVP-MOD,ADV,for_example
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,PP-RST,P-ROLE,in
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,PP-RST,IP-PPL,VAG,building
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,CONJP,CONJ,or
IP-MAT,PP-NIM,CONJP,PP-RST,IP-PPL,VAG,farming
ID,10_lucy_student_e08

(3.81)

IP-SUB,NP-SBJ,PRO,they
IP-SUB,VBD;~Ipr,went
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,PP-DIR,P-ROLE,to
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,PP-DIR,NP,NLYR,ADJP,ADJ,late
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,PP-DIR,NP,NLYR,PUNC,<hyphen>
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,PP-DIR,NP,NLYR,N,night
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,PP-DIR,NP,NS,movies
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,PUNC,<comma>
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,CONJP,CONJ,and
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,CONJP,ADVP-CNT,ADV,then
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-DIR,P-ROLE,on_to
IP-SUB,PP-CLR,CONJP,PP-DIR,NP,NS,parties
ID,19_lucy_bnc_c05

3.5.4    PP functions

In the clause, a PP typically acts as an adverbial. All of the possible adverbial roles listed in section 4.3.4 can be used with PP. In addition, PP-OB2 of section 4.3.2.2 is possible to make an indirect object, which gains the content of its role from being a verb selected element.