Re: EXERCISE: Small grammar exercise

On Sun, 30 Jun 2002 19:57:49 +0200, Philip Newton <Philip.Newton@...>
wrote:

Thanks for the samples. In 'Yemls, Queries usually have the same syntax as
the corresponding statements (not necessarily the same as the English of
course), with the query pronoun (currently {tQ}) substituted. When used in
as a verb or preposition, a "voice" prefix may have to be added. E.g.

{Vlb: AtQ-f?} -- What was Philip doing?

Fronting {tQ} is possible, but can be avoided.

So I'm really looking at these for 2 *other* reasons:
1. to see what constructs I need to implement (like time expressions or
measurements)
2. the equivalent of relative clauses
'Yemls doesn't have relative pronouns (or you could say it has a null
relative pronoun which only occurs in the subject position).

> Ask for the underlined words or expressions!
> (Note: I replaced underlining with [brackets]. Also, some sentences
> have more than one bracketed part, requiring therefore two or more
> answers.)
>
> a) [Tom] goes by Underground.
Already the subject.

> b) I show [Milly] [my new car].
Objects: add voice prefix to verb (or remove in some cases) and rearrange
arguments; only one relative in a given clause, unlike queries.

> c) She felt [very unhappy].
Adverb: I haven't figured this out yet. The query would be
{d: (feel)-f EtQ}; {E} begins an oblique argument.

> d) Miriam likes [strawberry] icecream.
> (Note: I can imagine this might call for a question of either "which
> (of these available kinds) icecream" or "what kind of icecream (in
> general)".)
Object of adjective of main object: haven't figured this out either; the
query would be
{(Miriam): (like)-m (icecream) (flavor_of) tQ.}

> f) [The children] take the bus to Oxford Circus.
> (Note: this is also interesting: In English, the question has to use
> the singular "Who takes"; I can imagine that in languages such as
> Spanish or Greek, which have plural forms of the interrogative personal
> pronoun "¿Quiénes?"(sp?) / "Poioí?" would form the question with a
> plural verb if it's clear that the answer will be plural.)
Subject again; 'Yemls doesn't have number agreement, and number isn't
usually marked.

I'll have to take a closer look at the rest later.

Jeff

>Cheers,
>Philip
>--
>Philip Newton <Philip.Newton@...>