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Introduction
Every sentence in English has a deep structure and a surface structure. Based on (Chomsky)1,
we define generative grammar as a system of rules that are applied successively in order to generate
a deep structure of a sentence, interpret it, transform it to a surface structure, and eventually
interpret this surface structure. This system of rules is analysed according to three major
components: the syntactic component, the semantic component, and the phonological component.
The syntactic component generates the deep structure of a sentence by applying phrase structure
rules2, and generates the surface structure by applying transformational rules. The semantic
component operates within the base of the syntactic component and interprets the deep structure
generated by the phrase structure rules. The transformational subcomponent of the syntactic
component transforms the deep structure to a surface structure. The phonological component
interprets the latter.
The syntactic component determines a set of abstract category and subcategory symbols, each
of which incorporates all the information relevant to semantic and phonological interpretation of a
particular sentence. That is, the syntactic component applies a system of phrase structure rules that
generate a string of terminal category and subcategory symbols. This string is terminal, if the
information that is provided by its symbols is relevant for the insertion of the lexicon elements. The
latter must follow the interpretive rules that are applied by the semantic component. Therefore, the
semantic component relates a structure generated by the syntactic component to a semantic
representation from the lexicon. Besides, the phonological component relates a structure generated
by the syntactic component to a phonetically represented signal.
In addition to its base, the syntactic component contains a transformational subcomponent that
applies certain formal operations on the deep structure and transforms it to a surface structure. Such
operations involve movement, insertion, deletion, and so on. Hence, every deep structure of a
sentence must contain a transformational marker which indicates the transformation(s) to apply.

1 See bibliography
2 Chomsky suggests Categorial Component. See pages 67,
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This research paper will discuss only the different movement transformations. Such movement
transformations are the NP movement, interrogative movement, and Wh-movement. It will be
restrictively a syntactic analysis. That is, how the syntactic component operates to generate both the
deep and surface structure. Hence, it is important to divide this research into two sections. The first
section illustrates definitions of the different rewriting rules (category and subcategory) supporting
them with some examples. The second section will discuss in depth the three different movement
transformations.

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Diagram of Generative Grammar:

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Table of Contents

1.definitions............................................................................................................

1.1 Rewriting rules:............................................................................................

1.1.1 Categorisation.......................................................................................
1.1.2 Subcategorisation..................................................................................
1.1.2.1Context-Free Subcategorisation........................................................
1.1.2.2Context-sensitive strict subcategorisation:........................................
1.1.2.3Context-free Subcategorisation of Nouns:........................................
1.1.2.4Context-sensitive Selectional Subacategorisation.............................

Bibliographie..........................................................................................................

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1.

1.1

DEFINITIONS

R EWRITING

RULES :

The mechanism of the base component oriented with respect to the order of left and right.
This mechanism generates a system of rewriting rules.
Based on Chomskys definition, a rewriting rule is a rule of the form
AZ / XY
It is interpreted as the category A is realized as a string Z when it is in the environment consisting
of X on the left and Y on the right. That is, a rewriting rule expands a single category symbol as one
or two categories, or subcategory symbols (complex symbols) with respect to the left-and-right
order. For instance, if A stands for NP (Noun Phrase); X for Det (Determiner); and Y for N
(Noun), we say that the category NP is realised as the string DetN in the environment where Det
should be on the left and N on the right. More examples:
Monotransitive Verbs is subcategorised as:
Monotransitive V [+ V, +NP]3 / VNP
( in the environment where V should be on the left and NP on the right)
Sentence the string (NP) (Predicate) / NPPredicate
( in the environment where NP should be on the left and Predicate on the right)
The arrow in a rewriting rule can be also read as rewrites as , expands as, or categorised as.
However, subcategorised as is not synonymous to categorised as , while rewrite as or
expand as can mean both of them.

3 According to Chomsky, this symbol between two brackests is called

Complex Symbol, Cs.
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1.1.1 C ATEGORISATION

In order to generate the deep structure of a sentence, the phrase structure rules 4 in the base of
the syntactic component applies a system of categorial rewriting rules that take the form of a
sequential derivation that results into terminal categories. This sequence of categorial rules refers to
categorisation.
Rules such as NPDetN, or VPVNP, are categorial rules. We define categorial rules
as AZ/ XY in which neither A nor Z involves any complex symbols, and we say that A can be
categorised to another string of categories. Hence, a categorial rule is a rewriting rule that branches
two categories with respect to the order of the constituents of the deep structure of the sentence.
They have two seperate functions: a) they define the system of grammatical relations, and b) they
determine the ordering in the deep structure. The essence of categorial rules is that they determine
whether a constituent belongs to the sentence, or it is dominated by another constituent within the
deep structure of the sentence. However, they are not sufficient for the insertion of the lexicon. They
should occur in accordance with the subcategorisation rules. In fact, subcategorisation rules operate
within the syntactic context of categorial rules.
Besides, categorial rules are applied in a sequential derivation. That is, in the deep structure of
a sentence they start initially from the symbol S (stands for sentence) that expands as the
constituents NP (Noun Phrase), Aux (Auxiliary) and VP (Verb Phrase), to a terminal string in
which category symbols can no longer expand, and therefore, the derivation is terminated. For
instance, category symbols like N, V, Det, Prep, and Adj are terminal because they can no longer
derive to other categories.

4 Chomsky suggests Categorial Component instead of Phrase Structure

Rules Component. According to him phrase structure rules are independent
of order.
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The obligatory categorial rule, S NPAuxVP, is considered as the main construction from
which all other rules derive. That is, every deep structure of a sentence in English should be
generated from that rule. We say it dominates all other subrules in the deep structure. On the left, the
NP5 (the noun phrase, or an embedded sentence) refers to the Subject of the deep structure of the
sentence. The NP can be categorised to other rules as in NPDetN, where Det stands for
Determiner; and N for Noun. On the right, the Aux VP ( Predicative Phrase of the deep
structure) is composed of two categories: Aux stands for Verbal Auxiliary and VP for Verb
Phrase. Aux incorporates the information such as (Tense, Modal, Aspect), which is determined by
subcategorisation rules. The VP contains the base of the Verb in the deep structure and other
categories that relate to the Verb (Complement, Adverb, etc..). The VP dominates all other
constituents which make part of the predicate of the deep structure of the sentence. The VP can be
categorised to other rules, such as VPVNP".
We make a table of some categorial rules in the deep structure .
Deep structure: categorial Rules
Simple sentences

S (Det) NAuxV
SNNNandNAuxVPP
SNAuxAdjP
S(Det) NAuxVN

Complex sentences

S(Det) N( S)AuxVS

(S stands for embedded SAdverbial,

sentence

in

structure)

the

deep

NPAuxAdverbV

AdverbialS
S (Det) N (S1)AuxVN, Adverbial
(S2)

Verb Phrase

VP VNP

5 It can be substituted by Pronoun by the Pronomilisation transformation

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VPVPP
VPVNPPP
Noun Phrase

NPDetNS6 (general categorial rule)

(S embedded sentence in NP(Det)

the deep structure will
function as a modifier or
complement in the post or
pre head in the surface
structure)

For instance, the base component applies the following sequential derivation of categorial
rules7:
(1) S NP Predicate-Phrase
(2) Predicate-Phrase AuxVP
(3) VPVNP
(4) NPN
(5) NPDetN
Applying (2) into (1), we shall get:
(6) S NPAuxVP

(non-terminal) (continue branching)

Applying (3) into (6):

(7) S NPAuxVNP (non-terminal)

(continue branching)

Applying (4) into (7):

(8) S NAuxVNP

(non-terminal) (continue branching)

Applying (5) into (8):

6 The surface structure That young man is generated from the deep structure
( That- man- (That-man-Aux-be-young)-Aux....)
7 They can be also called phrase structure rules
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(9) S NAuxVDetN

(terminal) (stop branching)

This string is terminal. The categories N, Aux, V, Det, and N can no longer expand in terms of
categorial rules. That is, there is no more branching. Moreover, still the insertion of the lexicon
formatives is not possible. There should be other rules to apply.

1.1.2 S UBCATEGORISATION
We define subcategorisation rules as the system of rewriting rules that the semantic component
serve to subcategorise a syntactic or a lexical category into a Complex Symbol, Cs, which contains
positively or /and negatively specified syntactic features inside two brackets, [+Category, Feature1,
Feature2,...]. Those Features can be either inherent or contextual features.

1.1.2.1 C ONT EXT -F REE S UBC ATEGORIS ATI ON

In order the semantic component relates the terminal string (9) to a lexical representation, it is
necessary that there should be prior inherent features, for every single lexical category, introduced
under the form of complex symbol for V, N, and Det. That is, prior context-free subacategorisation
for V ,N, and Det. For every lexical represantation, there should be inherent features, and therefore
the lexicon is subcategoriesed under the sequence of (D,C), where D stands for a lexical category 8
or word, and C stands for complex symbol which contains specified inherent features.
The following figures illustrates how the lexicon is organised.

8 Copula is a lexical category, whereas {grow, taste, feel,...} are lexical

subcategory within the Copula.
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Some Context-free subcategorisations of V as enlisted in the lexicon, (Haegeman):

Lexical Representation
{be, become, ...}

Inherent features9 (complex symbol)

V[+V,+ N]
V[+V,+ AdjP]

Copula

V[+V, + PP]
V[+V, + NP]
Monotransitive

{read,

love,

eat,

say, V[+V, +S]

believe}

We define context-sensitive subcategorisation rules as a system of interpretive rules that are

applied by the semantic component, and 1) that determine the whole terminal string of categories of
the deep structure into possible sections of strings with respect to the interpretation of the position
of V in the terminal string of categories, allowing only the insertion of V formatives from the
lexicon 2) that permit in every section V to select on the left and on the right in terms of complex
symbols.

1.1.2.2 C ONT EXT - SE NSITI VE S TRICT SUBC ATE GORIS ATI ON :

9 Chomsky suggests that there could be more features included, such as

phonological features.
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The string (9) implies a syntactic context for V. That is, at the first level of interpretation the
semantic component interprets V, using syntactic information, in the following way:
Since V in string (7) is set between two Nouns, that is emmidiately a N precedes the V and a N
follows the V, and since the first N on the left refers to the Subject of the sentence, and the second
N on the right can be either Subject Complement, Object of the Verb, or a Direct Object, there
are three possibilities for V to be sucategorised. V is either a Copula, Middle Verb, or
Monotransitive. That is, there are three possible lexicon entries for V. That is, there are three
possible strict subcategorisations for V. The latter selects the V in terms of the syntactic context.
We call this type of rules that determine the possible lexicon entries for V with respect to the
position of V in the terminal string of categories as context-sensitive strict subcategorisation
rules.

1.1.2.3 C ONT EXT - F REE S UBC ATEGORIS ATI ON OF N OUNS :

When a rule, such as rule (8), introduces inherent features that do not belong to the context
implied by categorial rules, we say that it is context-free. In general, Nouns can be subcategorized
in the semantic component according to this map:

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figure 1

However, the above diagram does not cover all Nouns, such as Plural Nouns with the entry
{The elderly, committee, kith and kin...}. Thus, the rule (8), which introduces a matrix of all possible
specifications of features, can summarise all possibilities.
(10)

(context-free) N [+N, Common, Count, Abstract, Animate, Human]

So, the rule, Plural Nouns[+N, +Common, -Count, -Abstract, +Animate, +Human]
relates to the representation {The elderly, committee, kith and kin...}
1.1.2.4 C ONT EXT - SE NSITI VE S EL ECTION AL S UB AC ATEGORI S ATION
Based on the possible strict subcategorisations of V in string (7), a semantic context of the
terminal string arises. It is the context by which the terminal categories select one another. V
selects the first N on the left and the second N on the right in terms of Nouns features (figure 1). N
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on the left selects N on the Right and vice versa, which does not permit deviations, like{John Aux
be a table}* , {

Now in every one of the three possible strict subcategorisations, another type of selectional
subcategorisations operates in which 1) the Copula V selects the Subject-Noun, and its SubjectNoun Complement, 2) the Middle Verb V selects the Subject-Noun and it Object-Noun, and 3) the
Monotransitive V selects the Subject-Noun and its O d Noun. This type of selectional rules are
applied in terms of the features introduced in rules (8) page 5

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+V

+ Subject [+N, - Common, + Animate, + Human]

Copula

+ Subject Complement [+N, + Common, + Animate, + Human]

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Considering the string (6),

S [ NAux VDet N]

Given a lexicon :
( {John, Anna,...}, +Subject [+N, -Common, +Animate, +Human] )
( {hobo, doctor, ...}, +Subject Complement [+N, +Common, +Animate, +Human] )

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B IBLIOGRAPHIE
Chomsky, Noam. Aspects of The Theory of Syntax. Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 1965.
Haegeman, Herman Wekker and Lialne. A Modern Course in English Syntax. London, New York
Guilford and King's Lynn: Croom Helm Ltd, Biddles Ltd, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996.

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