Assignment 13: Passive

(1)   The rabbits were being kept in the cage.
(2)  *The rabbits were being slept in the cage.
(3)   The monkey disabled the alarm.
(4)  *The monkey disabled.
(5)   The alarm was being disabled.
(6)   The porch was being repaired by the monkeys.
(7)   The authorities recognized the importance of the proposal.
(8)  *The authorities recognized.
(9)   The importance of the proposal was recognized (by the authorities).
(10) *The importance of the proposal was recognized the significance of
      the events (by the authorities).

1.
Some of the grammatical sentences here are not generated by our grammar.
Say which ones, and say why.

Some of the ungrammatical sentences here are generated by our grammar.
Say which ones, and say why.

Be very careful about this part.

2.
TASK:  Amend the grammar to generate the new grammatical sentences,
while avoiding the generation of any new (or old) ungrammatical ones.

In carrying out this task, you should consider at least two different
hypotheses: one which does not include any new Transformations, but may
include modifications to any of the other components of the grammar
(Phrase Structure Rules, Subcategorizations, Form Rules); and one
which makes use of at least one new Transformation (which may in
addition include some modifications to other components of the grammar).

Formulate each hypothesis explicitly, and then argue against one of
them in favor of the other.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES:

[DO NOT discuss or tree every single one of these examples.  Use them
to help figure out what is going on and what range of facts each analysis
has to account for.  Then discuss just enough of them (or similar examples
that you make up yourself) to illustrate your points and make your
arguments.]

(11)  The kids threw the sand into the tub.
(12) *The kids threw into the tub.
(13)  The sand was thrown into the tub (by the kids).
(14) *The sand was thrown the gravel into the tub (by the kids).

(15)  The girl chased the boy.
(16) *The girl chased.
(17)  The boy was chased (by the girl).
(18) *The boy was chased the baby (by the girl).

(19)  The students may have solved the problem.
(20) *The students may have solved.
(21)  The problem may have been solved (by the students).
(22) *The problem may have been solved the puzzle (by the students).

(23)  We fainted.
(24) *We fainted the children.
(25) *We were fainted.

Can you say anything intelligent about (26)?

(26) *The chicken in the oven was put by the farmer's wife.

How about (27)?

(27)  I was given a chicken by the farmer's wife.