1. The Classical Theory
1.2. Transformational Rules
Transformational rules operate on the output of PS rules: they depend on the application of PS rules. Such rules do not involve the division of sentences into smaller units, but the alteration or rearrangement of a structure in various ways. They convert one string into another, or we say they “derive” one structure from another and assign to it another P-marker. TRs are more heterogeneous and more complex than PS rules. TRs take the following form: A+B+C+D+E --------- a+b+c+d+e (a string of elements appears on the left of the arrow, and another on the right). TRs have many types.
- Affix hopping (affix shift/ flip-flop transformation)
This rule places affixes (endings/ inflections, like tense, en, ing )in the position to which they belong
- Negative transformation
This rule places “not” after the tense and the first element of the auxiliary
- Yes-No question transformation
This rule takes the tense and the first element of the auxiliary and moves them to the front of the string.
- Do-insertion transformation
This rule inserts “do” after tense in some negative and interrogative sentences.
- The contraction transformation
This rule attaches the contracted negative (n’t) to the element that proceeds “not”. It is applied after affix hopping.
- The passive transformation
It changes the position of NPs, adds (be+en) before the main verb and it introduces “by” in the surface structure before the second NP.
- The particle movement (permutation)
This rule changes the place of the particle in two-constituent verbs to the right of the object.
- Indirect object movement
This rule changes the position of the indirect object to the end of sentence and inserts “to” or “for” before it.
- The restrictive clause transformation.
This rule replaces the NP in the embedded sentence which is identical to an NP in the matrix sentence by a relative pronoun and moves it to the front of S2
- The infinitive transformation
This rule changes S into a (to-infinitive)