Which of the following is *not* an example of a possible independent PP in English?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: Which of the following is not an example of a possible independent PP in English?

Option A: 'in the store' — This is a classic prepositional phrase consisting of the preposition 'in' plus its object 'the store'. It forms a complete PP that can function independently in a sentence, for example: 'The cat is in the store.' Therefore, this option is an example of an independent PP.

Option B: 'around' — Here we have the preposition 'around' with no following noun phrase to complete the object of the preposition. In many analyses, a bare preposition without an object does not constitute a full prepositional phrase by itself; it typically needs an object (e.g., 'around the corner') or it may behave as an adverb (e.g., 'go around'). Because it lacks a complete object, this instance does not reliably form an independent PP as presented.

Option C: 'hill' — This is simply a noun. It has no preposition and therefore cannot function as a prepositional phrase at all. As a standalone word, it is not a prepositional phrase, much less an independent PP. This is not an example of a PP, independent or otherwise.

Summary of why each option behaves this way:
- 'in the store' is a typical PP with a preposition and a noun phrase; it stands alone as an independent PP.
- 'around' without an object lacks the noun phrase required to complete a PP; it does not form a full PP in isolation and is thus not an independent PP as presented.
- 'hill' is a noun, not a prepositional phrase, so it cannot be an independent PP.

Ambiguity note: If the source you’re using treats bare prepositions or adverbial uses differently in certain frameworks, they might classify some items in nuanced ways, but the most straightforward reading given standard grammar is that only a complete PP like 'in the store' qualifies as an independent PP, while 'hill' does not because it is a noun and not a prepositional phrase. If the exercise strictly requires an independent PP, 'hill' is the one that clearly fails that criterion.

LIN 001Y A01-A12 SQ 2025 Syntax HW

Which of the following is not an example of a possible independent PP in English?

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