Short rule descriptions

These rule descriptions are hastily done. Please post questions to EPost. The rules are listed in the order they appear in the ERG source files. I recommend using the "find" feature of your browser to navigate this page.

Phrase structure rules

subjh
Combines subject with subject-seeking head (usually VP), in main clause.
subjh_nmc
Combines subject with subject-seeking head (usually VP), in subordinate clause.
subjh-q
Combines subject with subject-seeking head, in wh-in-situ questions ("Kim told you what?")
hcomp
Combines a head (of any part of speech) with an appropriate complement.
hoptcomp
Discharges a complement requirement of a head that is marked as "optional" (unary rule). (Example: VP -> V in "Kim eats".)
noptcomp
Discharges a comlement requirement of a noun that is marked as "optional" (unary rule).
hmarkev
head-marker rule for events (part of analysis of coordination)
hmarknom
head-marker rule for NPs (part of analysis of coordination)
hmarkn
head-marker rule for N-bars (part of analysis of coordination)
hmarkatom
head-marker rule for 'both', 'neither' etc. (part of analysis of coordination)
extracomp
Bottom of a long distance dependency, where the missing element is a complement ("extracted complement").
extrasubj_f
Bottom of a long distance dependency, where the missing element is a subject in a finite clause ("extracted subject/finite").
extrasubj_i
Bottom of a long distance dependency, where the missing element is a subject in a non-finite clause ("extracted subject/infinitival").
hspec
Combines a specifier with a specifier-seeking nominal head.
hspechc
Combines a number or degree specifier with an adjective or adverb (10-foot long, mid-to-upper nineties)
adjh_s
Combines a sentential head with a scopal adjunct to its left ("adjunct-head, scopal").
adjh_s_xp
Combines a non-sentential head with a scopal adjunct to its left.
hadj_s
Combines a head with a scopal adjunct to its right ("head-adjunct, scopal")
adjn_i
Combines a noun with an intersective modifier to its left.
adjn_ni
Combines a noun with an intersective modifier to its left. Contrast to adjn_i has to do with punctuation.
adjh_i
Combines a head with an intersective modifier to its left.
adjh_i_ques
Combines a head with an intersective modifier to its left.
nadj_rc
Combines a noun with a relative clause.
nadj_rr_t
Combines a noun with a temporal reduced relative clause.
nadj_rr_nt
Combines a noun with a non-temporal reduced relative clause.
hadj_i_uns
Combines a head with an intersective and gap-free modifier. (Distinction relavant for generation.)
hadj_i_s
Combines a head with an intersective, gap-containing modifier. (Distinction relavant for generation.)
extradj_i_vp
Unary rule for creating the bottom of a long distance dependency where the `extracted' element is an intersective VP modifier.
extradj_i_s
Unary rule for creating the bottom of a long distance dependency where the `extracted' element is an intersective S modifier.
extradj_t
Unary rule for creating the bottom of a long distance dependency where the `extracted' element is an adverbial NP.
fin_non_wh_rel
Rule building finite non-wh relative clauses.
inf_non_wh_rel
Rule building non-finite non-wh relative clauses.
inf_non_wh_s_rel
Rule building non-finite non-wh subject relative clauses.
instr_non_wh_rel
Rule buildling infinitival instrumental relative clauses ("a Fedex number [to return my package]").
red_rel_vp
Rule building reduced relative clauses ("a bluebird [singing on the fence]")
subconj_prdp
"Kim arrived [devouring chocolate]."
subconj_prdp_ell
Another kind of participial subordinate phrase.
subconj_ap
"[Happy with the plan], Kim left."
subconj_vp
"[Devouring chocolate], Kim arrived."
bare_np
Unary rule licensing plural or mass NPs without quantifiers: "I like [chocolate]".
proper_np
Unary rule licensing proper NPs without quantifiers. "[Kim] likes to swim" (cf. "The Kim I know likes to swim.")
num_np
Unary rule for number words used as (proper) NPs.
n_nmod_np
"At [eye level]" (one kind of NP that can show up without a determiner inside specific PPs)
n_jmod_np
"at [close range]" (one kind of NP that can show up without a determiner inside specific PPs)
n_nomod_np
"of course", "within range" (one kind of NP that can show up without a determiner inside specific PPs)
bare_vger
"[Hiring Sandy] impressed Kim" -- verbal gerunds without a possessive determiner (cf "[Our [hiring Sandy]] impressed Kim").
noun_n_cmpnd
Rule for noun-noun compounds like "department manager".
np_n_cmpnd
Rule for NP-noun compounds like "[[seven o'clock] appointment]"
np_n_cmpnd_2
Another rule for NP-noun compounds.
np_name_cmpnd
Rule for names: Kim Smith (treated as a kind of compound).
np_city_state
Rule for city-state combinations: Seattle, Washington (treated as a kind of compound)
n_ttl_cmpnd
Rule for title + noun combinations, (Prof. Smith), again treated as a kind of compound.
appos
Rule for combining nouns with definite appositive modifiers: "Kim, the student sitting over there,..."
appos_i
Rule for combining nouns with indefinite appositive modifiers: "Kim, a friend of mine, ..."
npadv
Rule promoting temporal nouns to adverbial modifiers (unary rule).
num_noun
Unary rule for number names used as nouns: "Two hundred is enough".
num_seq
Rule for constructing longer phrases out of numbers like "ten thirty" as the pronunciation of the time 10:30.
fillhead_non_wh
Rule for topicalized (focus movement) sentences: "On Tuesday, they will leave.", "Bagels, I know Kim likes".
fillhead_wh_r
Finite matrix non-subject wh questions: "Who did Kim see?".
fillhead_wh_subj_r
Finite matrix subject wh questions: "Who hired Kim?"
fillhead_wh_nr_f
Finite embedded wh questions: "I know who hired Kim/I know who Kim hired".
fillhead_wh_nr_i
Non-finite embedded wh questions: "I know who to hire."
fillhead_rel
Combines filler (e.g., who) with head (e.g., "hired Kim") to build relative clause: "The person [who hired Kim] left/"
freerel_inf
Non-finite free relatives: "I need information on [how to read this]."
freerel_fin
Finite free relatives: "I like [where Kim went]."
v_coord_fin_top
Coordination rule for finite verbs (Note binary analysis of coordination requires two rules, one for the very top of the coordination and one for every lower branch.)
v_coord_fin_mid
Coordination rule for finite verbs.
v_coord_nonfin_top
Coordination rule for non-finite verbs.
v_coord_nonfin_mid
Coordination rule for non-finite verbs.
s_coord_top
Coordination rule for sentences.
s_coord_mid
Coordination rule for sentences.
p_coord_top
Coordination rule for prepositions.
p_coord_mid
Coordination rule for prepositions.
np_coord_top
Coordination rule for NPs
np_coord_mid
Coordination rule for NPs
n_coord_top
Coordination rule for Ns
n_coord_mid
Coordination rule for Ns
n_coord_asym_top
Coordination rule for Ns
n_coord_asym_top2
Coordination rule for Ns
adj_attr_coord_top
Coordination rule for attributive adjectives
adj_attr_coord_mid
Coordination rule for attributive adjectives
adj_pred_coord_top
Coordination rule for predicative adjectives
adj_pred_coord_mid
Coordination rule for predicative adjectives
imper
Unary rule promoting VPs to imperative Ss.
yesno
Unary rule for yes-no questions (daughter is an intervted clause, main effects of this rules are semantic.)
measure_np
Builds noun phrases expressing measurments which can then act as degree specifiers: "I need [one inch] long nails."
meas_np_symb
For measure NPs where the measure noun is a symbol which appears (in the written form) before the number: $100.
bare_meas_np
Unary rule for measure NPs with plural noun and no number: "[miles] high", "[years] ago"
partnum_nc
Numbers used as partitives: "one arrived"
partnum_of
Numbers used as partitives: "one of them arrived"
partnum_n_nc
Partitives like "some" in "some arrived"
partnum_n_of
Partitives like "some of" in "some of them arrived"
np_s
Rule promoting S to NP for sentential arguments: "[That Kim slept] bothers Sandy"
np_wh_s
Rule promoting S to NP for sentential arguments which include wh words: "He thought about who she hired."
partnp
Possessives used as partitives: "[the book's] is red".
numdet
Promotes number adjectives to determiners: "(exactly) [five] chairs arrived"
frag_np
Rule for sentence fragments of category NP: Who's here? [Kim]
frag_pp_i
Rule for sentence fragments of category PP (independent): Where were they jogging? [In the park]
frag_pp_s
Rule for sentence fragments of category PP (selected): Where are you going? [To the park]
frag_adj
Rule for sentence fragments of category adjective (phrase)
frag_adv
Rule for sentence fragments of category adverb (phrase)
frag_dadv
Rule for sentence fragments of category discourse adverb ("So", "Yes")
frag_vp
Rule for sentence fragments of category VP.
frag_nocop_s
Rule for copulaless sentences.
frag_l_mod_np
Rule for NP fragments with modifiers.
frag_l_mod_pp
Rule for PP fragments with modifiers.
frag_l_mod_adv
Rule for ADV fragments with modifiers.
frag_l_mod_frag
Rule for other fragments with modifiers.
frag_r_mod_np
Rule for NP fragments with modifiers.
frag_r_mod_i_pp
Rule for PP fragments with modifiers.
frag_r_mod_s_pp
Rule for PP fragments with modifiers.
frag_r_mod_ap
Rule for adjective fragments with modifiers.
punct_qt
Punctuation rule.
punct_par
Punctuation rule.
punct_hinit
Punctuation rule.
punct_hfinal
Punctuation rule.
runon_s
Rule for run on sentences: "I like pizza pizza is good"
nocop_vp
(Another) rule for copulaless sentences: "Rain possible." Constructs a VP out of a predicative phrase.
nocop_id_vp
(Another) rule for copulaless sentences, where the copula would be the identity copula.
nocop_s
Copulaless and subjectless sentences.
possnp
Handles possessive plural NPs which lack overt 's.

Lexical rules

plur_noun_infl_rule
Plural nouns
third_sg_fin_verb_infl_rule
Present tense third singular verbs
psp_verb_infl_rule
Past participles
past_verb_infl_rule
Past tense 3rd person singular verbs
prp_verb_infl_rule
Present participles
bse_verb_infl_rule
Base form verbs
non_third_sg_fin_verb_infl_rule
Present tense non 3rd person singular verbs
sing_noun_infl_rule
Singular nouns
mass_noun_infl_rule
Mass nouns
mass_count_infl_rule
Mass-count nouns
plur_numcomp_noun_infl_rule
Plural form without -s for nouns derived from numbers: "The three over there."
pos_adj_infl_rule
Non-comparative, non-superlative adjective.
passive_infl_rule
Passive verbs
cp_passive_infl_rule
Passive verbs
-ly_infl_rule
Adverbs derived from adjectives
locinvlr
Locative inversion ("In the garden [stands] a statue.")
taglr
Tag questions ("Sara left, [didn't she]?")
sailr
Subject auxiliary inversion ("[Did] Kim leave?")
advadd
Adverb addition ("Kim [did] not leave.") -- adds one of a small class of adverbs to the complements list.
vpellipsis_ref_lr
VP ellipsis ("I won't do it, but Kim [will].")
vpellipsis_expl_lr
VP ellipsis.
vgering
Verbal gerunds (derived from verbs).
intransng
Nominal gerunds (derived from verbs).
intr_pp_ng
Nominal gerunds (derived from verbs).
transng
Nominal gerunds (derived from verbs).
monthdet
In "October first", October is a determiner. This rule derives that determiner from the NP "October".
weekdaydet
In "Tuesday morning", Tuesday is a determiner. This rule derives that determiner from the NP "Tuesday".
dofm_yofc
"January first 1984" from "the first of january"
attr_adj
Derives transitive predicative adjectives from intransitive attributive adjectives.
attr_adj_verb_part
Makes adjectives out of intransitive verbal particles: "The admired hero".
attr_adj_verb_tr_part
Makes adjectives out of transitive verbal particles: "The starting point".
part_ppof_agr
Builds partitive determiner out of partitive noun.
part_ppof_noagr
Builds partitive determiner out of partitive noun.
part_nocomp
Builds partitive determiner out of partitive noun.
NP_part_lr
"Look up the answer"/"Look the answer up".
dative_lr
Dative shift: "Kim gave Sandy a book"/"Kim gave abook to Sandy".(Derives NP PP frame from NP NP frame.)
dativep_lr
Dative shift on passive forms: "A book was given to Sandy".
minute_lr
Converts number adjectives to nouns for "twenty (minutes) to nine"
enoughadd
"Kim is happy enough with Sandy (to ...)" Adds "enough" to complements list of adjective.