Syntactic Theory


The Modifier

Properties of adjuncts/modifiers:

  • obligatoriness: modifiers are optional.
  • iterability: there can be an arbitrary number of modifiers.
  • constancy of semantic contribution: the relation between the modifier and the head is always the same.
  • semantic: indicates some further properties of the head.
  • the modifier is only compatible with heads of a particular class.
  • word order: modifiers are further away from the head than complements
  • word order: in English, modifiers can occur on either side of the head (green car in the garage, quickly [talked to Jim] in the hallway)
  • pronominalization:
    • verb: the pro-VP forms do so/do the same thing can combine with a modifier, but not with a complement.
    • noun: the pro-N'-form one can combine with a modifier, but not with a complement.

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Categories: Glossary