Question

Consider the following set of Phrase Structure Rules in a toy grammar:
[Note: T is tense, P is preposition, V is verb and N is noun; they project their respective phrasal units TP, PP, VP and NP]
TP \(\rightarrow\) NP T VP
VP \(\rightarrow\) (Adverb) V (TP) (PP)
PP \(\rightarrow\) P NP
NP \(\rightarrow\) (Determiner) (Adjective) N
Which of the following sentences can be generated by these rules?

• A. The golden bells are probably ringing in the church.
• B. Bells ring to let believers know that mass will begin.
• C. The golden bells in the church always ring for prayers.
• D. The silent bells say that the pastor has not visited the bell tower.

Hint:

When a toy grammar gives a very limited NP rule, any NP that contains a PP modifier (like “NP + in the church”) will usually be ungrammatical under that grammar unless NP \(\rightarrow\) NP PP is explicitly allowed.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B

Step 1: Reading the toy grammar carefully.
The grammar allows the following:
TP must be \(\text{NP} + \text{T} + \text{VP}\).
VP can contain an optional Adverb, a Verb, and optionally a TP (clausal complement) and/or a PP (prepositional phrase).
NP is restricted to (Determiner) (Adjective) N, so it cannot contain an embedded PP like “bells {in the church}”.
PP is only P NP, so “in the church” is fine as a PP, but it cannot occur {inside NP} given these rules.
Step 2: Checking option (A).
Sentence: {The golden bells are probably ringing in the church.}
NP = The golden bells (Det + Adj + N)
T = are
VP = probably (Adverb) + ringing (V) + in the church (PP)
This matches TP \(\rightarrow\) NP T VP, so (A) is generated.
Step 3: Checking option (B).
Sentence: {Bells ring to let believers know that mass will begin.}
NP = Bells (N)
T can be treated as present (often null/implicit tense in toy grammars)
VP has V = ring and it can take a clausal complement (TP) according to VP \(\rightarrow\) V (TP).
The complement “to let believers know that mass will begin” functions like an embedded clause (TP) in this simplified setup.
So (B) can be generated by allowing the complement as TP.
Step 4: Rejecting option (C).
Sentence: {The golden bells in the church always ring for prayers.}
Here, “bells in the church” is an NP containing a PP modifier inside NP.
But NP rules do not allow NP \(\rightarrow\) NP PP, only (Det)(Adj)N.
So (C) cannot be generated.
Step 5: Rejecting option (D).
Sentence: {The silent bells say that the pastor has not visited the bell tower.}
Although VP allows a TP complement (“say + TP”), the embedded clause includes auxiliary structure and negation (“has not visited”), and the NP “the bell tower” involves structures not provided by the toy grammar (e.g., richer tense/aux system).
Given the restricted rules, this is not reliably generated.
Step 6: Conclusion.
Only (A) and (B) conform to the structures licensed by the toy grammar.
Final Answer: (A), (B)