Consider the following question:
– Have you received the letter which I sent today using my private e-mail address?
Should the adverb "today" be placed at the end of the sentence? If not, could you please explain why? Is the adverb not attached at the level of the verb phrase (VP)?
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Hello, MlleSim,
@MlleSim posted:– Have you received the letter which I sent today using my private e-mail address?
Should the adverb "today" be placed at the end of the sentence? If not, could you please explain why? Is the adverb not attached at the level of the verb phrase (VP)?
It wouldn't be incorrect to place "today" at the end, but I don't think it is strictly necessary. If we consider the classical word order for adverbs, manner + place + time, that would be the desirable position. However, I think "today" works well being next to the main verb, which is "sent." The participial phrase "using my private e-mail address" functions as an adjunct of manner, and I feel its length very well justifies placing "today" before it.
@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:The participial phrase "using my private e-mail address" functions as an adjunct of manner, and I feel its length very well justifies placing "today" before it.
Thank you for your reply, Gustavo! This last part of your analysis tallies with my own (that is, it is currently serving as my "justification"). The reason I ask, though, is because of Jackendoff's take on the placement of VP-adverbs (a summary of which is included below). Unless I have missed it, the above position is not mentioned as a possibility, and this has left me wondering as to its grammaticality.
@MlleSim posted:– Have you received the letter which I sent today using my private e-mail address?
Should the adverb "today" be placed at the end of the sentence? If not, could you please explain why? Is the adverb not attached at the level of the verb phrase (VP)?
@MlleSim posted:The reason I ask, though, is because of Jackendoff's take on the placement of VP-adverbs (a summary of which is included below). Unless I have missed it, the above position is not mentioned as a possibility, and this has left me wondering as to its grammaticality.
Hello, MlleSim—Please note that the end of a clause is not necessarily the same thing as the end of a sentence. In your sentence, you have three clauses: the main clause ("Have you received the letter"), a relative clause ("which I sent today") and a nonfinite participial clause ("using my private e-mail address").
The adverb(ial) "today" occupies clause-final position within the relative clause, "which I sent today." Prior to wh-movement, the clause reads "I sent which today." The adverb(ial) "today" comes at the end of the verb phrase, and the end of that verb phrase is the end of that clause (the relative clause).
In the attachment, "clause-final" position is listed as a possibility for VP adverbs.
@David, Moderator posted:In your sentence, you have three clauses: the main clause ("Have you received the letter"), a relative clause ("which I sent today") and a nonfinite participial clause ("using my private e-mail address").
The adverb(ial) "today" occupies clause-final position within the relative clause, "which I sent today." Prior to wh-movement, the clause reads "I sent which today." The adverb(ial) "today" comes at the end of the verb phrase, and the end of that verb phrase is the end of that clause (the relative clause).
This is an excellent explanation, David! Precisely what I was hoping to find. Mille mercis!
