Introducing constituent order (1) Fixed vs free constituent order Constituent order in English – Fixed constituent order – Given -> new (end-focus principle) – Theme -> rheme (topic -> comment) – Short -> long (end-weight principle) Fixed vs free constituent order Constituent order in English – Fixed constituent order – Given -> new (end-focus principle) – Theme -> rheme (topic -> comment) – Short -> long (end-weight principle)

Introducing constituent order (2) Fronting – contrast between Danish/English: very emphatic in English, not so in Danish Den film kender jeg ikke vs That movie I dont know ….and a few Yoda quotes: Agree with you, the Council does – your apprentice, Skywalker will be. Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. Lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has Cleft sentences – used for emphasis It was Yoda who trained Luke Skywalker vs Yoda trained Luke Skywalker What I like about Yoda is his unique grammar vs I like Yodas unique grammar Fronting – contrast between Danish/English: very emphatic in English, not so in Danish Den film kender jeg ikke vs That movie I dont know ….and a few Yoda quotes: Agree with you, the Council does – your apprentice, Skywalker will be. Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is. Lost a planet, Master Obi-Wan has Cleft sentences – used for emphasis It was Yoda who trained Luke Skywalker vs Yoda trained Luke Skywalker What I like about Yoda is his unique grammar vs I like Yodas unique grammar

Constituent order – inversion (1) Partial inversion = the first aux comes before the subject - obligatory in: – In interrogative sentences: Do you speak English? – In wishes, etc.: May all your dreams come true. – In conditional clauses leaving out if: Should he win, then.. – In sentences beginning with negative/restrictive adverbials: Not only does he play the piano; he also plays the flute. – With so, such, neither, nor: I was very impressed, and so were the judges. (NB: full inversion with to be as full verb) Partial inversion = the first aux comes before the subject - obligatory in: – In interrogative sentences: Do you speak English? – In wishes, etc.: May all your dreams come true. – In conditional clauses leaving out if: Should he win, then.. – In sentences beginning with negative/restrictive adverbials: Not only does he play the piano; he also plays the flute. – With so, such, neither, nor: I was very impressed, and so were the judges. (NB: full inversion with to be as full verb)

Constituent order – inversion (2) Full inversion = the whole VP is placed before the subject – optional with the fronting of: – Certain place adverbials (esp. literary): At the end of the road lies/stands the castle – A Od as direct speech with reporting verbs: Well hunt them down, said George W Bush (NB: not when S is a pronoun) – A Cs : Fairly obvious, but still valid were the results of the survey – A participle: Spying on us through the window sat an unknown man, on his knees on the lawn (not very commonly used…) Full inversion = the whole VP is placed before the subject – optional with the fronting of: – Certain place adverbials (esp. literary): At the end of the road lies/stands the castle – A Od as direct speech with reporting verbs: Well hunt them down, said George W Bush (NB: not when S is a pronoun) – A Cs : Fairly obvious, but still valid were the results of the survey – A participle: Spying on us through the window sat an unknown man, on his knees on the lawn (not very commonly used…)

Constituent order – adverbials (1) Initial position: before the S Medial position: between S and P (unless with to be) – With complex VPs after the first aux unless closely attached to the main verb (NB AmE different) Final position: after the P (and O/Cs/Co) Initial position: before the S Medial position: between S and P (unless with to be) – With complex VPs after the first aux unless closely attached to the main verb (NB AmE different) Final position: after the P (and O/Cs/Co)

Constituent order – adverbials (2) Long As Short As Long As + short con/disjuncts + parenthetic long As + short con/disjuncts + indefinite frequency + manner, place, + time, definite freq SP--P O/Cs/Co Long As Short As Long As + short con/disjuncts + parenthetic long As + short con/disjuncts + indefinite frequency + manner, place, + time, definite freq SP--P O/Cs/Co

Constituent order – adverbials (3) Factors influencing the A position: – Weight: long and heavy vs. short and light As – Semantics: Conjuncts/disjuncts vs. adjuncts (manner, place, time, frequency) – Style: marked choices, theme-rheme, emphasis, length of O, etc. Factors influencing the A position: – Weight: long and heavy vs. short and light As – Semantics: Conjuncts/disjuncts vs. adjuncts (manner, place, time, frequency) – Style: marked choices, theme-rheme, emphasis, length of O, etc.

Constituent order – problems for Danes S-P: – Danish inversion when a main sentence starts with an adverbial Hvis du har lyst, kan vi gå i biografen i morgen. I morgen skal jeg nemlig ingenting. A: – In Danish, long As are very common in medial position – In Danish, S P A in main sentences; S A P in clauses S-P: – Danish inversion when a main sentence starts with an adverbial Hvis du har lyst, kan vi gå i biografen i morgen. I morgen skal jeg nemlig ingenting. A: – In Danish, long As are very common in medial position – In Danish, S P A in main sentences; S A P in clauses