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Passive transformation
In these examples we can see a likeness between the two sentences they are derived from the
same deep structure. The difference is due to the effect of a transformation which we shall call
passivissation that is applied in the second derivation and not the first.
VP -- > (passive) + Vt + NP
S
NP VP
Suriya passive Vt NP
ball
Relative transformation
be-deletion transformation
NP VP
broke down
NP S
Det. N NP VP
which
The bus which was old broke down.
All sentences in every language have both a deep structure and a surface structure. It is the deep
structure of a sentence that tells us what the speaker means by the sentence and it is the surface structure
that shows how he actually uses it in communication, a transformation functions as a link between the
deep structure of a sentence and its surface structure.
Revision of Basic English Sentence (Tree Diagrams)
Indicating the elements of basic English sentences by using tree diagrams
Tree diagrams.
1. Monthong is a student.
S
NP VP
N Aux. MV
Nprop. Tense be NP
Indef. Ncom.
Count.
Monthong -s be a student
String : Monthong + - s + be + a + student.
T Af : Monthong + be + - s + a + student.
Phonological rule : Monthong is a student.
Note: Phonological rules operate in the production of the actual sentence.
2 He was young. S
NP VP
N Aux. MV
PP3 past
He - be young
String : He + + be + young. ==== >
T Af : He + be + young.
Phonological rule : He was young.
3. Somebody is in the class S
NP VP
N Aux MV
present
NP VP
Det. N Aux. MV
Vi1
NP VP
Det. N Aux. MV
D1 count past VT NP
Vt Det. N
Art. N.com
Indef. Count.
NP VP
Det N Aux. MV
NP VP
Det. N. Aux. MV
Det. N
Art. N.com.
Indef. count.
NP VP
Det N Aux. MV
NP VP
N Aux. MV
PP 3 look handsome
NP VP
N Aux. MV
PP 3 present Vh Np
Det N