Sentence: Sentences, Clauses, and Imperatives

Last update: 2006-12-18 16:59:02 CET



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    abstract Sentence = Cat ** {

Clauses

The NP VP predication rule form a clause whose linearization gives a table of all tense variants, positive and negative. Clauses are converted to S (with fixed tense) with the UseCl function below.

      fun
        PredVP    : NP -> VP -> Cl ;         -- John walks

Using an embedded sentence as a subject is treated separately. This can be overgenerating. E.g. whether you go as subject is only meaningful for some verb phrases.

        PredSCVP  : SC -> VP -> Cl ;         -- that you go makes me happy

Clauses missing object noun phrases

This category is a variant of the 'slash category' S/NP of GPSG and categorial grammars, which in turn replaces movement transformations in the formation of questions and relative clauses. Except SlashV2, the construction rules can be seen as special cases of function composition, in the style of CCG. Note the set is not complete and lacks e.g. verbs with more than 2 places.

        SlashV2   : NP -> V2 -> Slash ;         -- (whom) he sees
        SlashVVV2 : NP -> VV -> V2 -> Slash;    -- (whom) he wants to see 
        AdvSlash  : Slash -> Adv -> Slash ;     -- (whom) he sees tomorrow
        SlashPrep : Cl -> Prep -> Slash ;       -- (with whom) he walks 

Imperatives

An imperative is straightforwardly formed from a verb phrase. It has variation over positive and negative, singular and plural. To fix these parameters, see Phrase.

        ImpVP     : VP -> Imp ;              -- go

Embedded sentences

Sentences, questions, and infinitival phrases can be used as subjects and (adverbial) complements.

        EmbedS    : S  -> SC ;               -- that you go
        EmbedQS   : QS -> SC ;               -- whether you go
        EmbedVP   : VP -> SC ;               -- to go

Sentences

These are the 2 x 4 x 4 = 16 forms generated by different combinations of tense, polarity, and anteriority, which are defined in Common.

      fun
        UseCl  : Tense -> Ant -> Pol -> Cl  -> S ;
        UseQCl : Tense -> Ant -> Pol -> QCl -> QS ;
        UseRCl : Tense -> Ant -> Pol -> RCl -> RS ;

An adverb can be added to the beginning of a sentence.

        AdvS   : Adv -> S  -> S ;            -- today, I will go home
    
    }