Master English Word Order & Information Structure for Students
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19 cards
Question: What is substitution in grammar?
Answer: Replacing a linguistic unit with another expression (a pro-form) whose meaning is understood from context.
Question: What is a pro-form?
Answer: An expression that substitutes for another unit or part of a unit (e.g., pronouns, so, there, this/that/which).
Question: Give an example where 'so' is used as a pro-form and say what it replaces.
Answer: He complained about money. I wouldn’t do so. — 'so' replaces the verb phrase meaning 'complain about money' (a verb phrase or clause meaning).
Question: Which pro-form substitutes for a noun?
Answer: 'one' substitutes for a noun (e.g., this table or that one — 'one' replaces 'table').
Question: Which pro-form substitutes for a noun phrase?
Answer: 'it' substitutes for a noun phrase (e.g., I bought an interesting book but it wasn’t expensive — 'it' replaces 'an interesting book').
Question: Which pro-form substitutes for a place expression?
Answer: 'there' substitutes for a place expression.
Question: Which words can substitute for a subordinate clause or a larger clause meaning?
Answer: 'this', 'that', and 'which' can substitute for subordinate clauses or whole clause meanings.
Question: Give an example of 'this/that/which' replacing a clause meaning.
Answer: The little girl cried, and this upset her mother. — 'this' replaces 'that the little girl cried'.
Question: What are wh-pro-forms and what can they replace?
Answer: Wh-pro-forms (who, what, which, when) function as different clause elements in questions and can replace subjects, complements, or adverbials (e.g., w
Question: Provide an example showing a wh-pro-form replacing the subject.
Answer: Who made him CEO last year? — 'who' replaces the subject 'they'.