Rules and Exceptions in the English Auxiliary System
نویسنده
چکیده
This paper sketches an HPSG analysis of the English auxiliary system, including nite negation, inversion, ellipsis, contraction, and the restricted distribution of unfocussed do. Negative and other adverbials are selected by the nite auxiliary , enabling a treatment of lexical variation in scope assignment. Auxiliary constructions are featurally distinguished from others, allowing a succinct account of do in terms of lexical speciication. This constraint-based, lexicalist analysis expresses the central generalizations governing the auxiliary constructions, as well as the observed lexical idiosyncrasy.
منابع مشابه
The two be's of English
This qualitative study investigates the uses of be in Contemporary English. Based on this study, one easy claim and one more difficult claim are proposed. The easy claim is that the traditional distinction between be as a lexical verb and be as an auxiliary is faulty. In particular, 'copular-be', traditionally considered to be a lexical verb, is in fact a prototypi...
متن کاملLearning English Auxiliary Modal Verbs by Iranian Children
Modal verbs in English are challenging to learn by speakers of other languages. The purpose of thiswas to shed light on the use of gesture in learning English modal verbs by Persian-speaking children.To achieve this, 60 elementary Iranian learners, studying at some institutes in Karaj took part in thisstudy. The participants were randomly put into one experimental group and one control group. T...
متن کاملComplementiser Phrase: The Case of English Wh-Embedded Clauses
English main-clause wh-questions form complementiser phrases with wh-words preposed to spec-C position. This is because English wh-words, as verb-complements originally, are strong enough to trigger wh-movement and auxiliary inversion. Persian EFL learners encounter an over-differentiation problem regarding the acquisition of auxiliary inversion rule in English standard questions. Once they hav...
متن کاملHow textbooks (and learners) get it wrong: A corpus study of modal auxiliary verbs
Many elements contribute to the relative difficulty in acquiring specific aspects of English as a foreign language (Goldschneider & DeKeyser, 2001). Modal auxiliary verbs (e.g. could, might), are examples of a structure that is difficult for many learners. Not only are they particularly complex semantically, but especially in the Malaysian context ...
متن کاملDetermining optimal distance from outlet of auxiliary forcing ventilation system to development of heading in underground mines
Auxiliary ventilation of the blind development heading in underground mines is one of the most challenging work activities amongst mining underground operations. The auxiliary forcing ventilation system provides positive pressure, cooling, controlling gas layering, and removing diesel fumes and dust levels from development headings, stopes, and services facilities. The effectiveness of the auxi...
متن کامل