Basic English Grammar with Exercises

Exercise 8

DP

D'

D NP

an N'

N PP

analysis P'

P DP

of D'

D NP

ø NP PP

N' with s. mistakes

N

sentences

Exercise 8

Meaning 1:

One of the children’s books were on the desk.

Meaning 2:

One of the children’s books was on the desk.

In meaning 1, the string one of the children forms one node, which can be proved

by substituting a DP for this string of words:

(1) a [DP one of the children]’s books

b [DP John]’s books

In meaning 2, the string the children’s books forms one node, which can again be

proved by substituting a DP for this string of words:

(2) a one of [DP the children’s books]

b one of [DP them]

The tree structure of the DP with meaning 1 is that in (3a) and the structure of the

DP with meaning four is under (3b).