Dictionary.com

equi NP deletion

[ ek-wee en-peedi-lee-shuhn ]
/ ˈɛk wi ˈɛnˈpi dɪˈli ʃən /
Save This Word!

noun Linguistics.
a rule of transformational grammar that deletes the underlying subject of a complement clause if it is coreferential with the subject or object of the main clause, as in John promised to return the money, where the underlying subject (John) of return has been deleted.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Also called eq·ui .

Origin of equi NP deletion

First recorded in 1970–75; short for equivalent NP
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
FEEDBACK