Locative Adverbial Phrases

Locative adverbial phrases are multi-word adverbial modifiers whose meanings relate to spatial location. Locatives consist of a locative adverb (such as ahead or downstream) preceded by an NP, an adverb, or nothing, as in Examples ((329))-((331)) respectively. The modifier as a whole describes a position relative to one previously specified in the discourse. The nature of the relation, which is usually a direction, is specified by the anchoring locative adverb(behind, east). If an NP or a second adverb is present in the phrase, it specifies the degree of the relation (for example: three city blocks, many meters, and far).

(328)0(328

(329)

The accident three blocks ahead stopped traffic  (329)0(329

(330)

The ship sank far offshore  (330)0(330

(331)

The trouble ahead distresses me 

Locatives can modify NPs, VPs and Ss. They modify NPs only by right-adjoining post-positively, as in Example ((329)). Post-positive is also the more common position when a locative modifies either of the other categories. Locatives pre-modify VPs only when separated by balanced punctuation (commas or dashes). The trees locatives select when modifying NPs are shown in Figure 19.16.

  

Figure: Locative Modifier Trees: $\beta$nxnxARB, $\beta$nxARB

When the locative phrase consists of only the anchoring locative adverb, as in Example ((330)), it uses the $\beta$nxARB tree, shown in Figure 19.16, and its VP analogue, $\beta$vxARB. In addition, these are the trees selected when the locative anchor is modified by an adverb expressing degree, as in Example (330). The degree adverb adjoins on to the anchor using the $\beta$ARBarb tree, which is described in Section 19.5. Figure 19.17 shows an example of these trees in action. Though there is a tree for a pre-sentential locative phrase, $\beta$nxARBs, there is no corresponding post-sentential tree, as it is highly debatable whether the post-sentential version actually has the entire sentence or just the preceding verb phrase as its scope. Thus, in accordance with XTAG practice, which considers ambiguous post-sentential modifiers to be VP-modifiers rather than S-modifiers, there is only a $\beta$vxnxARB tree, as shown in Figure 19.17.

  

Figure 19.17: Locative Phrases featuring NP and Adverb Degree Specifications

One possible analysis of locative phrases with NPs might maintain that the NP is the head, with the locative adverb modifying the NP. This is initially attractive because of the similarity to time NPs, which also feature NPs that can modify clauses. This analysis seems insufficient, however, in light of the fact that virtually any NP can occur in locative phrases, as in example ((332)). Therefore, in the XTAG analysis the locative adverb anchors the locative phrase trees. A complete summary of all trees selected by locatives is contained in Table 19.3. 26^19.9 adverbs select the locative trees.

(331)0(331

(332)

I left my toupee and putter three holes back 

 

Table 19.3: Locative Modifiers

	Degree Phrase Type
Category Modified	NP	Ad/None
NP	$\beta$nxnxARB	$\beta$nxARB
VP (post)	$\beta$vxnxARB	$\beta$vxARB
VP (pre, punct-separated)	$\beta$punxARBpuvx	$\beta$puARBpuvx
S	$\beta$nxARBs	$\beta$ARBs