Basic English Syntax with Exercises

Suggested answer for Exercise 3

a Only identical constituents can be coordinated. Here we have a DP coordinated with a PP.

b Only constituents can undergo movement. Here whose is not a constituent, it forms a constituent together with film, so they shouls move together.

c Pronouns, in spite of their name substitute full DPs, not only nouns. She in the ungrammatical sentence could stand for the woman with long hair, it cannot be understood as referring to woman only.

d Again, only constituents can undergo movement. The constituent that could be moved in this sentence is the student of Physics.

e Identical constituents can be coordinated, but only if they have the same function in the sentence. In this sentence the first PP is an instrument, the second expresses manner.