Basic English Grammar with Exercises

Suggested Answers and Hints - Chapter 1

Exercise 6

The definite article the, the indefinite article a and the demonstrative pronoun this are

functional categories and as such they have [+F] feature. As they are the functional

projection of the noun, they share the categorial features associated with the noun.

[+N, –V]. Their feature matrix is: [+F, +N, –V].

The words, boy, neighbourhood, mistake and girl are nouns. Therefore they are

lexical elements that share the same feature matrix. They are specified for the

functional feature negatively. As they are nouns, they have [+N, –V] features. Their

feature matrix is [–F, +N, –V].

The item in is a preposition that is a lexical element. It has neither verbal, nor

nominal properties; therefore its feature matrix is [–F, –N, –V].

The modal auxiliary may is a functional item as it is in complementary distribution

with the tense marker and the to infinitival marker that are in I^0. As IP is a functional

projection of the lexical verb, it has also verbal properties. Its feature matrix is: [+F,–

N, +V].

The primary auxiliary have is not generated in a functional projection, but it heads

its own VP, VPs headed by primary auxiliaries have the special property that they can

only subcategorise for another VP. As it is not the head of IP in the initial structure, it

is not positively specified for [F], but it is not a full lexical verb either, as primary

auxiliaries have very limited lexical content. They invariably subcategorise for another

VP. Full lexical verbs and primary auxiliaries differ in one feature. While lexical verbs

are negatively specified for the [F] feature, primary auxiliaries are not specified for

this feature, at all. The feature matrix for have is: [–N, +V].

The adjective big is a lexical element; therefore its functional feature is specified

negatively. As adjectives share lexical features both with nouns and with verbs their

feature matrix is [–F, +N, +V].

Exercise 7

Easi+er

The stem of the word easier is easy which is an adjective. Adjectives can be

graded. The comparative and superlative forms of easy are inflectional that is the

suffixes -er or -est are added to the adjectival stem. The underlined suffix is

inflectional, it can beadded to the appropriate word class (in this case adjective)

productevily. Adjectives in comparative form compare two nominal expressions with

respect to the property expressed by the adjective.

Grand+father+s

Two simple stems (roots) grand and father are combined to create the compound

stem grandfather. The plural marker added to the complex stem is inflectional, as it

can co-occur with determiners that require plural nouns e.g. two grandfathers.