JOHN MILAS / MY FATHER STARTS AN ARGUMENT: A SYNTACTIC ANALYSIS
Part I: Lexical Categories
Sentence 1: My father starts an argument about Scrabble rules.
Hypothesis: father is a noun in Sentence 1
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: My fathers start an argument about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: father can inflect for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (= father is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: The father starts an argument about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: father can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=father is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=father is a noun in Sentence 1) is correct.
Hypothesis: starts is a verb in Sentence 1
Test #1: Premise: verbs can be inflected for person
Apply: I start an argument about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: started can inflect for person
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=starts is a verb)
Test #2: Premise: verbs can be inflected for tense
Apply: My father started an argument about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: organized can inflect for tense
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=starts is a verb)
Test #3: Premise: verbs can be inflected for aspect
Apply: My father is starting an argument about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: started can inflect for aspect
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=starts is a verb)
Test #4: Premise: verbs can be preceded by an auxiliary
Apply: My father can start an argument about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: organized can be preceded by an auxiliary
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=starts is a verb)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=starts is a verb in Sentence 1) is correct.
Hypothesis: argument is a noun in Sentence 1
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: My father starts arguments about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: argument can inflect for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive Hypothesis (=argument is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: My father starts his argument about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: argument can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=argument is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=argument is a noun in Sentence 1) is correct.
Hypothesis: about is a preposition in Sentence 1
Test #1: Premise: prepositions can be followed by a noun phrase
Apply: My father starts an argument about nouns.
Outcome: about can be followed by a noun phrase
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=about is a preposition)
Test #2: Premise: prepositions can be followed by a determiner phrase
Apply: My father starts an argument about his misconceptions.
Outcome: about can be followed by a determiner phrase
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=about is a preposition)
Test #3: Premise: prepositions can appear after verbs, nouns, and adjectives
Apply: My father argues about Scrabble rules.
Outcome: about can appear after a verb
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=about is a preposition)
Test #4: Premise: prepositions can be preceded by modifiers.
Apply: My father starts an argument foolishly about Scrabble.
Outcome: about can be preceded by foolishly
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=about is a preposition)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=about is a preposition in Sentence 1) is correct.
Hypothesis: Scrabble rules is a noun in Sentence 1
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: My father starts an argument about a Scrabble rule.
Outcome: Scrabble rules can inflect for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=Scrabble rules is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: My father starts an argument about Hasbro’s Scrabble rules.
Outcome: Scrabble rules can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=Scrabble rules is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=Scrabble rules is a noun in Sentence 1) is correct.
Sentence 2: He challenges the words xi and za.
Hypothesis: challenges is a verb in Sentence 2
Test #1: Premise: verbs can be inflected for person
Apply: They dismiss the words xi and za.
Outcome: challenges can be inflected for person
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=challenges is a verb)
Test #2: Premise: verbs can be inflected for tense
Apply: He dismissed the words xi and za.
Outcome: challenges can be inflected for tense
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=challenges is a verb)
Test #3: Premise: verbs can be inflected for aspect
Apply: He is dismissing the words xi and za.
Outcome: challenges can be inflected for aspect
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=challenges is a verb)
Test #4: Premise: verbs can be preceded by an auxiliary
Apply: He cannot dismiss the words xi and za.
Outcome: challenges can be preceded by an auxiliary
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=challenges is a verb)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=challenges is a verb in Sentence 2) is correct.
Hypothesis: words is a noun in Sentence 2
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: He challenges the word xi .
Outcome: words can be inflected for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=words is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: He challenges my mother’s words xi and za.
Outcome: words can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=words is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=words is a noun in Sentence 2) is correct.
Hypothesis: xi is a noun in Sentence 2
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: He challenges the xis.
Outcome: xi can be inflected for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=xi is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: He challenges my mother’s xi.
Outcome: xi can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=xi is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=xi is a noun in Sentence 2) is correct.
Hypothesis: za is a noun in Sentence 2
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: He challenges the zas.
Outcome: za can be inflected for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=za is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: He challenges our za.
Outcome: za can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=za is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=za is a noun in Sentence 2) is correct.
Sentence 3: My father loses the argument decisively.
Hypothesis: father is a noun in Sentence 3
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: My fathers lose the argument decisively.
Outcome: father can be inflected for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=father is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: The father loses the argument decisively.
Outcome: father can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=father is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=father is a noun in Sentence 3) is correct.
Hypothesis: loses is a verb in Sentence 3
Test #1: Premise: verbs can be inflected for person
Apply: I lose the argument decisively.
Outcome: loses can be inflected for person
Evaluation of Test #1: positive Hypothesis (=loses is a verb)
Test #2: Premise: verbs can be inflected for tense
Apply: My father lost the argument decisively.
Outcome: loses can be inflected for tense
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=loses is a verb)
Test #3: Premise: verbs can be inflected for aspect
Apply: My father is losing the argument decisively.
Outcome: loses can be inflected for aspect
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=loses is a verb)
Test #4: Premise: verbs can be preceded by an auxiliary
Apply: My father can lose the argument decisively.
Outcome: loses can be preceded by an auxiliary
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=loses is a verb)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=loses is a verb in Sentence 3) is correct.
Hypothesis: argument is a noun in Sentence 3
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: The father loses the arguments decisively.
Outcome: argument can be inflected for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=argument is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: The father loses his argument decisively.
Outcome: argument can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=argument is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=argument is a noun in Sentence 3) is correct.
Hypothesis: decisively is an adverb in Sentence 3
Test #1: Premise: adverbs can end in ly
Apply: The father loses the argument decisively.
Outcome: decisively ends in ly
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=decisively is an adverb)
Test #2: Premise: adverbs can be preceded by a verb
Apply: My father loses decisively.
Outcome: decisively can be preceded by a verb
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=decisively is an adverb)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=decisively is an adverb in Sentence 3) is correct.
Sentence 4: My mother reads the rules [loudly]. [note: add an adjunct of your choice]
Hypothesis: mother is a noun in Sentence 4
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: My mothers read the rules loudly.
Outcome: mother can be inflected for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=mother is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: The mother reads the rules loudly.
Outcome: mother can be be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=mother is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=mother is a noun in Sentence 4) is correct.
Hypothesis: reads is a verb in Sentence 4
Test #1: Premise: verbs can be inflected for person
Apply: I read the rules loudly.
Outcome: reads can be inflected for person
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=reads is a verb)
Test #2: Premise: verbs can be inflected for tense
Apply: My mother will read the rules loudly.
Outcome: reads can be inflected for tense
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=reads is a verb)
Test #3: Premise: verbs can be inflected for aspect
Apply: My mother is reading the rules loudly.
Outcome: reads can be inflected for aspect
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=reads is a verb)
Test #4: Premise: verbs can be preceded by an auxiliary
Apply: My mother can read the rules loudly.
Outcome: reads can be preceded by an auxiliary
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=reads is a verb)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=reads is a verb in Sentence 4) is correct.
Hypothesis: rules is a noun in Sentence 4
Test #1: Premise: nouns can be inflected for number
Apply: My mother reads the rule loudly.
Outcome: rules can be inflected for number
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=rules is a noun)
Test #2: Premise: nouns can be preceded by a determiner
Apply: My mother reads Hasbro’s rules loudly.
Outcome: rules can be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=rules is a noun)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=rules is a noun in Sentence 4) is correct.
Hypothesis: loudly is an adverb in Sentence 4
Test #1: Premise: adverbs can end in ly
Apply: My mother reads the rules loudly.
Outcome: loudly ends in ly
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=loudly is an adverb)
Test #1: Premise: adverbs can be preceded by a verb
Apply: My mother reads loudly.
Outcome: loudly can be preceded by a verb
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=loudly is an adverb)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=loudly is an adverb in Sentence 4) is correct.
Part II: Functional Categories
Sentence 5: “Players will use the dictionary in case of a challenge.”
Hypothesis: will is an auxiliary in Sentence 5
Test #1: Premise: auxiliaries undergo Rule of Inversion for questions
Apply: “Will players use the dictionary in case of a challenge?”
Outcome: will can undergo Rule of Inversion for questions
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary)
Test #2: Premise: auxiliaries can be followed by negation
Apply: “Players will not use the dictionary in case of a challenge.”
Outcome: will can be followed by negation
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary)
Test #3: Premise: auxiliaries can appear in sentence final-tags
Apply: “Players won’t use the dictionary, will they?”
Outcome: will can appear in sentence final-tags
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, and Test #3, the Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary in Sentence 5) is correct.
Hypothesis: the is a determiner in Sentence 5
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: “Players will use their the dictionary in case of a challenge.”
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: “Players will use nice the dictionary in case of a challenge.”
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiner is necessary for singular, countable noun
Apply: “Players will use dictionary in case of a challenge.”
Outcome: the is necessary for singular dictionary
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical, not lexico-semantic
Apply: “Players will use thoughtful dictionaries in case of a challenge.”
Outcome: the has a grammatical relationship with dictionary
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=the is a determiner in Sentence 5) is correct.
Hypothesis: a is a determiner in Sentence 5
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: “Players will use the dictionary in case of their a challenge.”
Outcome: a cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: “Players will use the dictionary in case of nice a challenge.”
Outcome: a cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiner is necessary for singular, countable noun
Apply: “Players will use the dictionary in case of challenge.”
Outcome: a is necessary for singular challenge
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical, not lexico-semantic
Apply: “Players will use the dictionary in case of ignorant challenge.”
Outcome: a has a grammatical relationship with challenge
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=a is a determiner in Sentence 5) is correct.
Sentence 6: She puts the dictionary in his hand.
Hypothesis: the is a determiner in Sentence 6
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: She puts her the dictionary in his hand.
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: She puts nice the dictionary in his hand.
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiner is necessary for singular, countable noun
Apply: She puts dictionary in his hand.
Outcome: the is necessary for singular dictionary
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical
Apply: She puts nice dictionaries in his hand.
Outcome: the has a grammatical relationship with dictionary
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #3, the Hypothesis (=the is a determiner in Sentence 6) is correct.
Hypothesis: his is a determiner in Sentence 6
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: She puts the dictionary in the his hand.
Outcome: his cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=his is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: She puts the dictionary in nice his hand.
Outcome: his cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=his is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiner is necessary for singular, countable noun
Apply: She puts the dictionary in hand.
Outcome: his is necessary for singular hand
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=his is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical
Apply: She puts the dictionary in nice hands.
Outcome: his has a grammatical relationship with hand
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=his is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4 the Hypothesis (=his is a determiner in Sentence 6) is correct.
Sentence 7: “Dads must follow the rules of Scrabble unquestionably.”
Hypothesis: must is an auxiliary in Sentence 7
Test #1: Premise: auxiliaries can undergo Rule of Inversion for questions
Apply: “Must dads follow the rules of Scrabble unquestionably?”
Outcome: must can undergo Rule of Inversion for questions
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=must is an auxiliary)
Test #2: Premise: auxiliaries can be followed by negation
Apply: “Dads must not follow the rules of Scrabble unquestionably.”
Outcome: must can be followed by negation
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=must is an auxiliary)
Test #3: Premise: auxiliaries can appear in sentence final-tags
Apply: “Dads must follow the rules unquestionably, mustn’t they?”
Outcome: must can appear in sentence final-tags
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=must is an auxiliary)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, and Test #3, the Hypothesis (=must is an auxiliary in Sentence 7) is correct.
Hypothesis: the is a determiner in Sentence 7
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: “Dads must follow their the rules of Scrabble unquestionably.”
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: “Dads must follow nice the rules of Scrabble unquestionably.”
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiner is necessary for singular, countable noun
Apply: “Dads must follow rule of Scrabble unquestionably.”
Outcome: the is necessary for singular, countable rule
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical
Apply: “Dads must follow nice rules of Scrabble unquestionably.”
Outcome: the has a grammatical relationship with rules
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4 the Hypothesis (=the is a determiner in Sentence 7) is correct.
Sentence 8: “You will search for the definitions of xi and za now.”
Hypothesis: will is an auxiliary in Sentence 8
Test #1: Premise: auxiliaries can undergo Rule of Inversion for questions
Apply: “Will you search for the definitions of xi and za now?”
Outcome: will can undergo the Rule of Inversion for questions
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary)
Test #2: Premise: auxiliaries can be followed by negation
Apply: “You will not search for the definitions of xi and za now.”
Outcome: will can be followed by negation
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary)
Test #3: Premise: auxiliaries can appear in sentence final-tags
Apply: “You will search for the definitions of Zi and za now, won’t you?”
Outcome: will can appear in sentence final-tags
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, and Test #3 the Hypothesis (=will is an auxiliary in Sentence 8) is correct.
Hypothesis: the is a determiner in Sentence 8
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: “You will search for their the definitions of xi and za now.”
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: “You will search for nice the definitions of xi and za now.”
Outcome: the cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiners are necessary for singular, countable noun
Apply: “You will search for definition of xi now.”
Outcome: the is necessary for singular definition
Evaluation of Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical
Apply: “You will search for nice definitions of xi and za now.”
Outcome: the has a grammatical relationship with definitions
Evaluation of Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=the is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=the is a determiner in Sentence 8) is correct.
Sentence 9: This dad has engaged in a failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Hypothesis: This is a determiner in Sentence 9
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: The this dad has engaged in a failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Outcome: This cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=This is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: Nice this dad has engaged in a failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Outcome: This cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=This is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiners are necessary for singular, countable, noun
Apply: Dad has engaged in a failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Outcome: This is necessary for singular, countable dad
Evaluation for Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=This is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical
Apply: Nice dad has engaged in a failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Outcome: This has a grammatical relationship with dad
Evaluation for Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=This is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test 4 the Hypothesis (=This is a determiner in Sentence 9) is correct.
Hypothesis: a is a determiner in Sentence 9
Test #1: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by a determiner
Apply: This dad has engaged in the a failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Outcome: a cannot be preceded by a determiner
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Test #2: Premise: determiners cannot be preceded by an adjective
Apply: This dad has engaged in nice a failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Outcome: a cannot be preceded by an adjective
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Test #3: Premise: determiners are necessary for singular, countable noun
Apply: This dad has engaged in failed pursuit of satisfaction.
Outcome: a is necessary for singular, countable pursuit
Evaluation for Test #3: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Test #4: Premise: determiner/noun relationship is grammatical
Apply: This dad has engaged in nice failed pursuits of satisfaction.
Outcome: a has a grammatical relationship with pursuit
Evaluation for Test #4: positive for Hypothesis (=a is a determiner)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, Test #2, Test #3, and Test #4, the Hypothesis (=a is a determiner in Sentence 9) is correct.
Part III: Constituents
Sentence 10: My mother subtracts points from my father’s score.
Hypothesis: My mother is a noun phrase in Sentence 10
Test #1: Premise: noun phrases can be replaced by a pronoun
(substitution) Apply: She subtracts points from my father’s score.
Outcome: My mother can be replaced by a pronoun.
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=My mother is a noun phrase)
Test #2: Premise: X-phrases can move as a single unit
(movement) Apply: It is my mother who subtracts points from my father’s score.
Outcome: My mother can move as a single unit.
Evaluation of Test#1: positive for Hypothesis (=My mother is a noun phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=My mother is a noun phrase in Sentence 10) is correct.
Hypothesis: subtracts points is a verb phrase in Sentence 10
Test #1: Premise: verb phrases can be replaced by pro-form do so
(substitution) Apply: My mother does so from my father’s score.
Outcome: subtracts points can be replaced by pro-form do so
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=subtracts points is a verb phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, the Hypothesis (=subtracts points is a verb phrase in Sentence 10) is correct.
Hypothesis: from my father’s score is a prepositional phrase in Sentence 10
Test #1: Premise: prepositional phrases can be replaced by locative pro-form there
(substitution) Apply: My mother subtracts points there.
Outcome: from my father’s score can be replaced by there
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=from my father’s score is a prepositional phrase)
Test #2: Premise: X-phrases can move as a single unit
(movement) Apply: It is from my father’s score that my mother subtracts points.
Outcome: from my father’s score can be moved as a single unit
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=from my father’s score is a prepositional phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=from my father’s score is a prepositional phrase in Sentence 10) is correct.
Sentence 11: My father will question his life’s trajectory over time.
Hypothesis: My father is a noun phrase in Sentence 11
Test #1: Premise: noun phrases can be replaced by a pronoun
(substitution) Apply: He will question his life's trajectory over time.
Outcome: My father can be replaced by a pronoun.
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=My father is a noun phrase)
Test #2: Premise: X-phrases can move as a single unit
(movement) Apply: It is my father who will question his life's trajectory over time.
Outcome: My father can move as a single unit.
Evaluation of Test#1: positive for Hypothesis (=My father is a noun phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=My father is a noun phrase in Sentence 11) is correct.
Hypothesis: will question his life's trajectory is a verb phrase in Sentence 11
Test #1: Premise: verb phrases can be replaced by the pro-form do so
(substitution) Apply: My father will do so over time.
Outcome: will question his life's trajectory can be replaced by do so
Evaluation of Test#1: positive for Hypothesis (=will question his life's trajectory is a verb phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, the Hypothesis (=will question his life's trajectory is a verb phrase in Sentence 11) is correct.
Hypothesis: over time is a prepositional phrase in Sentence 11
Test #1: Premise: prepositional phrases can be replaced by temporal pro-form then
(substitution) Apply: My father will question his life's trajectory then.
Outcome: over time can be replaced by then
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=over time is a prepositional phrase)
Test #2: Premise: X-phrases can move as a single unit
(movement) Apply: It is over time that my father will question his life's trajectory.
Outcome: over time can move as a single unit
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=over time is a prepositional phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=over time is a prepositional phrase in Sentence 11) is correct.
Sentence 12: He will presumably play Scrabble against someone else in the future.
Hypothesis: play Scrabble against someone else is a verb phrase in Sentence 12
Test #1: Premise: verb phrases can be replaced by pro-form do so
(substitution) Apply: He will presumably do so in the future.
Outcome: play Scrabble against someone else can be replaced by do so
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=play Scrabble against someone else is a verb phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1, the Hypothesis (=play Scrabble against someone else is a verb phrase in Sentence 12) is correct.
Hypothesis: in the future is a prepositional phrase in Sentence 12
Test #1: Premise: prepositional phrases can be replaced by temporal pro-form then
(substitution) Apply: He will presumably play Scrabble against someone else then.
Outcome: in the future can be replaced by then
Evaluation of Test #1: positive for Hypothesis (=in the future is a prepositional phrase)
Test #2: Premise: X-phrases can move as a single unit
(movement) Apply: It is in the future that my father will question his life's trajectory.
Outcome: in the future can move as a single unit
Evaluation of Test #2: positive for Hypothesis (=in the future is a prepositional phrase)
Conclusion: Based on the results of Test #1 and Test #2, the Hypothesis (=in the future is a prepositional phrase in Sentence 12) is correct.
John Milas is a writer from Champaign who lives in Urbana. His debut novel, The Militia House, was published in 2023 by Henry Holt and nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award in 2024. His short work has appeared in Hunger Mountain Review, Porter House Review, The Journal, and elsewhere. Learn more at johnmilas.com.