Syntactic Principles: Case Filter, Binding, and Control
Case Filter Principle and Assignment Rules
The Case Filter Principle states that all overt Noun Phrases (NPs/DPs) must receive Case, or the sentence will be ungrammatical.
Case Assignment Rules
These rules determine when an element receives Case and which type of Case is assigned:
- Finite Inflection [FIN]: Assigns Nominative [NOM] to the subject.
- Transitive Verbs [+TRANS]: Assign Accusative Case [ACC] to the complement.
- Prepositions: Assign Accusative [ACC] Case to the complement.
- Prepositional Complementizer
English Grammar Structures and Sentence Analysis
Grammatical Structures and Examples
0. Relative Clauses
Who, that, which, etc.
1. Appositive
Dr. Sanders, the one operating Amy, is a professional. (Una aclaración.)
2. Cleft Clauses
It was in June we got married.
3. Anticipatory
It is likely that we stay at home.
4. Prop (Dummy Pronoun)
It pero impersonal.
5. Referential
Where is my coat? Ah, there it is.
6. Existential/Non-existential
The bear is there / There happens to exist the possibility.
7. Indirect Object
Give him the book. (Sólo el him.)
8. Benefactive
Read MoreMastering English Sentence Structure and Connectors
Common Connectors and Adverbs: Usage Contrast
Contrasting Uses of Conjunctions and Adverbs
But
Used for contrast or destination.
Example: Do not go over today, but tomorrow.
If
Introduces a condition. Note: Check if removing “not” changes the sentence meaning.
Example: He said if I died with him.
Because
Causal conjunction (Since, For).
Example: They moved slowly because it was dangerous.
Why (Relative)
Used as a relative element (e.g., ‘the reason why’).
Example: The walking trail was ugly. (Note: This example
Fundamentals of English Linguistics and Grammar
Core Concepts in English Linguistics
Phonetics, Phonology, and Morphology Defined
Phonetics: The Study of Speech Sounds
Phonetics is the study of speech sounds, focusing on:
- How they are produced (Articulatory Phonetics)
- Their physical properties (Acoustic Phonetics)
- How they are perceived (Auditory Phonetics)
Phonology: The Study of the Sound System
Phonology is the study of the sound system of a language: how the particular sounds used in each language form an integrated system for encoding information.
Mastering English Nouns: Structure, Plurals, and Articles
The Noun: Definition and Word Formation
The noun is a word expressing substance in the widest sense, including names of living beings, lifeless things, and abstract notions (qualities, states, actions).
Nouns can be formed using suffixes and prefixes.
Productive Noun Suffixes
- -er: (to read – reader)
- -ist: (to specialize – specialist)
- -ness: (careless – carelessness)
- -ism: (national – nationalism)
- -ess: (traitor – traitress). This is practically the only gender-forming suffix, expressing feminine gender.
Essential English Grammar: Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs
Nouns: Classification and Types
Nouns are fundamental to the English language, and they are typically classified in several ways. Here are the main types of nouns, often grouped into pairs based on what they represent:
1. By Specificity (General vs. Specific)
| Noun Type | Definition | Examples | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Noun | A general name for a person, place, thing, or idea. | girl, city, river, car, feeling | Not capitalized (unless at the start of a sentence). |
| Proper Noun | The specific name of a particular person, place, |