Suggested answer for Exercise 6
The definite article the, the indefinite article a and the demonstrative pronoun this are functional categories and as such they have [+F] feature. As they are the functional projection of the noun, they share the categorial features associated with the noun. ?+N, –V?. Their feature matrix is: ?+F, +N, –V?.
The words, boy, neighbourhood, mistake and girl are nouns. Therefore they are lexical elements that share the same feature matrix. They are specified for the functional feature negatively. As they are nouns, they have ?+N, –V? features. Their feature matrix is ?–F, +N, –V?.
The item in is a preposition that is a lexical element. It has neither verbal, nor nominal properties; therefore its feature matrix is ?–F, –N, –V?.
The modal auxiliary may is a functional item as it is in complementary distribution with the tense marker and the to infinitival marker that are in I0. As IP is a functional projection of the lexical verb, it has also verbal properties. Its feature matrix is: ?+F,–N, +V?.
The primary auxiliary have is not generated in a functional projection, but it heads its own VP, VPs headed by primary auxiliaries have the special property that they can only subcategorise for another VP. As it is not the head of IP in the initial structure, it is not positively specified for ?F?, but it is not a full lexical verb either, as primary auxiliaries have very limited lexical content. They invariably subcategorise for another VP. Full lexical verbs and primary auxiliaries differ in one feature. While lexical verbs are negatively specified for the ?F? feature, primary auxiliaries are not specified for this feature, at all. The feature matrix for have is: ?–N, +V?.
The adjective big is a lexical element; therefore its functional feature is specified negatively. As adjectives share lexical features both with nouns and with verbs their feature matrix is ?–F, +N, +V?.