Manual


In a slight departure from CCGrebank, we do not use the special punctuation categories (,, ., :, ;, LRB, RRB, LQU, RQU) or the corresponding punctuation rules. Instead, we give punctuation symbols real CCG modifier categories that, unlike real modifiers, are specified for → clause type. We combine them with constituents via application.

Sentence-final Punctuation

Sentence-final punctuation attaches at the top level via application. For example:

Tom
N
NP
*
sang
S[dcl]\NP
S[dcl]
< 0
.
S[dcl]\S[dcl]
S[dcl]
< 0

Application, not composition, is also used for imperatives:

Hör
((S[b]\NP)/PR)/NP
mir
NP
(S[b]\NP)/PR
> 0
zu
PR
S[b]\NP
> 0
.
(S[b]\NP)\(S[b]\NP)
S[b]\NP
< 0

Punctuation Separating Head and Modifier

Puncutation, especially commas, often appears between a head and its modifier. The rule is then to attach punctuation to the modifier, e.g., the subordinate clause. For example:

Ich
NP
will
(S[dcl]\NP)/S[em]
,
S[em]/S[em]
dass
S[em]/S[dcl]
Tom
N
NP
*
singt
S[dcl]\NP
S[dcl]
< 0
S[em]
> 0
S[em]
> 0
S[dcl]\NP
> 0
S[dcl]
< 0
.
S[dcl]\S[dcl]
S[dcl]
< 0

Commas before Conjunctions

A comma that appears immediately before a conjunction – such as the Oxford comma – attaches directly to that conjunction:

Tim
N
NP
*
,
(NP\NP)/NP
Tom
N
NP
*
,
((NP\NP)/NP)/((NP\NP)/NP)
and
(NP\NP)/NP
(NP\NP)/NP
> 0
Tammy
N
NP
*
NP\NP
> 0
NP
< 0
NP\NP
> 0
NP
< 0
He
NP
believes
(S[dcl]\NP)/PP
in
PP/NP
what
NP/(S[dcl]/NP)
he
NP
S[X]/(S[X]\NP)
T >
plays
(S[dcl]\NP)/NP
S[dcl]/NP
> 1
NP
> 0
PP
> 0
S[dcl]\NP
> 0
S[dcl]
< 0
,
((S[dcl]\S[dcl])/S[dcl])/((S[dcl]\S[dcl])/S[dcl])
and
(S[dcl]\S[dcl])/S[dcl]
(S[dcl]\S[dcl])/S[dcl]
> 0
he
NP
plays
S[dcl]\NP
superbly
(S\NP)\(S\NP)
S[dcl]\NP
< 0
S[dcl]
< 0
S[dcl]\S[dcl]
> 0
S[dcl]
< 0
.
S[dcl]\S[dcl]
S[dcl]
< 0

Commas before Appositions

Commas before appositions are analyzed like conjunctions in → coordination. For example:

Hans
N
NP
*
,
(NP\NP)/NP
a
NP/N
businessman
N
NP
> 0
NP\NP
> 0
NP
< 0

Commas Surrounding Modifiers

When a modifier such as an apposition or a VP modifier is surrounded by commas, the comma on the right attaches to the whole noun phrase, including the apposition and its argument:

Hans
N
NP
*
,
(NP\NP)/NP
a
NP/N
businessman
N
NP
> 0
NP\NP
> 0
NP
< 0
,
NP\NP
NP
< 0
smokes
S[dcl]\NP
S[dcl]
< 0
.
S[dcl]\S[dcl]
S[dcl]
< 0

Quotes

Quotation marks surrounding a constituent attach in a right-branching fashion. For example:

They
NP
watched
(S[dcl]\NP)/NP
"
NP/NP
Fargo
N
NP
*
"
NP\NP
NP
< 0
NP
> 0
S[dcl]\NP
> 0
S[dcl]
< 0
.
S[dcl]\S[dcl]
S[dcl]
< 0

Direct Speech

A sentence that appears as direct speech is treated like a sentential complement. The quotation marks do not change its category. For example:

"
S[intj]/S[intj]
Hello
S[intj]
"
S[intj]\S[intj]
S[intj]
< 0
S[intj]
> 0
,
S[intj]\S[intj]
S[intj]
< 0
she
NP
said
(S[dcl]\S[intj])\NP
S[dcl]\S[intj]
< 0
S[dcl]
< 0

Use-mention Conversion

Other than direct speech, when quotes surround a linguistic expression that is mentioned, the expression is analyzed as if it was used (even if it is in another language), then the right quote gets a category that converts the use category to the mention category (usually NP). For example:

What
S[wq]/(S[q]/NP)
does
(S[q]/(S[b]\NP))/NP
"
NP/NP
ti
NP
amo
S[dcl]\NP
S[dcl]
< 0
"
NP\S[dcl]
NP
< 0
NP
> 0
S[q]/(S[b]\NP)
> 0
mean
(S[b]\NP)/NP
S[q]/NP
> 1
S[wq]
> 0
?
S[wq]\S[wq]
S[wq]
< 0

Vocatives

When a vocative precedes or follows an utterance, separated by a comma, the comma attaches to the utterance, but takes the vocative as an argument first:

Vaarwel
S[intj]
,
(S[intj]\S[intj])/NP
Sayoko
N
NP
*
S[intj]\S[intj]
> 0
S[intj]
< 0
.
S[intj]\S[intj]
S[intj]
< 0