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In the following example, which has the deep structure, which has the surface structure?

The boy kicked the ball
The ball was kicked by the boy
A) 1 - Deep Structure, 2 - Surface Structure
B) 1 - Surface Structure, 2 - Deep Structure
C) Both are Deep Structures
D) Both are Surface Structures

User Metaphore
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

In the example given, "The boy kicked the ball" is closer to the deep structure, as it expresses the direct action, while "The ball was kicked by the boy" is the surface structure as it involves a transformation to the passive voice. Hence, the answer is A) 1 - Deep Structure, 2 - Surface Structure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question regards the concept of deep and surface structure in linguistics, more specifically within the framework of transformational grammar, as introduced by Noam Chomsky. The deep structure of a sentence refers to the underlying syntactical form that carries the basic meaning, while the surface structure is how this deep structure is realized in actual speech or writing, which can vary without altering the essential meaning.

When we examine the sentences "The boy kicked the ball" and "The ball was kicked by the boy", we can determine that Sentence 1 is closer to the deep structure since it’s the more direct expression of the action. Sentence 2, on the other hand, is a passive construction and has transformed from the active form, making it the surface structure. Therefore, the answer to the question is A) 1 - Deep Structure, 2 - Surface Structure.

User Daniel Jamrozik
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