SUMMARY OF PHRASE STRUCTURE (PS) RULES
Celce Murcia & Larcen Freeman’s The Grammar Book
Signs:
1. S →
(sm)n S’
#2 SUBJ PRED
#1
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2. S’ → SUBJ PRED
3. SUBJ → NP
#1 (det)3
(AP) N (-pl) (PrepP)
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{W} = options
→ = connected below phrase or
category
↷ = connected below phrase or
category to the other side
W n = amount of words used
(W) = if word/s exist/s
#n = option number
[W] = specific type, form or category
#2 pro
4. NP →
#1 NP
#3 NP’
#2 AP
#3 PrepP
5. AP → (intens)n ADJn (PrepP)
6. PrepP → Prep NP
7. PRED → AUX VP (Advl)n
#1 AdvlCL
8. Advl →
#2 AdvlP
#3 PrepP
9. AdvlCL → adv sub S
10. AdvlP → (intens)n ADV
#1 T
#1
11. AUX →
12. T →
#2 M
#
#2 -imper
(pm) (perf) (prog)
#1 -past
13. perf → have . . . –en [past participle]
14. prog → be . . . –ing [present participle]
#1 NP
#1 cop
15. VP →
16. NP’ →
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#2 -pres
#2 AP
#3 PrepP
#2 V
Elements:
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(NP)3 (PrepP)
#1 (det)3
#2 pro
STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH
ELT 122
(AP) N (-pl) (PrepP)
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S – sentence
sm – sentence modifier [adverb of
frequency, beginning or negation]
S’ – focus sentence
SUBJ – subject
PRED – predicate
NP – noun phrase
det – determiner [limiting adjective]
AP – adjective phrase
N – noun
-pl – plural form
PrepP – prepositional phrase
pro – pronoun
NP’ – additional noun phrase [direct
object]
intens – intensifier [adverb of degree]
ADJ – adjective [descriptive adjective]
Prep – preposition
AUX – auxiliary verb [tense, aspect and
mood]
VP – verb phrase
Advl – adverbial [adverb of time, place
or purpose]
AdvlCL – adverbial clause
[subordinating clause]
AdvlP – adverbial phrase
AdvlSub – adverbial subordinator
[subordinating conjunction]
ADV – adverb [adverb of manner]
T – tense
M – modal
pm – phrasal modal
perf – perfect aspect
prog – progressive aspect
-imper – imperative mood
-past – past tense [regular and irregular
verb]
-pres – present tense
cop – copula [be verb]
Conj – conjunction [coordinating
conjunction]
Sn – sentence number [compound
sentence]
CRISTY A. NGO (CTE, UM Main)
Course Code #06503