rule features

A term used in classical TRANSFORMATIONAL GRAMMAR to refer to one of the types of (BINARY) FEATURES which are contained in a LEXICAL entry (the others being INHERENT features and CONTEXTUAL features), and which provides information as to whether a lexical ITEM is exceptional with reference to the applicability of a non-lexical TRANSFORMATION (e.g. PASSIVIZATION). This type of feature is symbolized as [−Passive], [−Equi], etc. If a rule does have lexical exceptions, it is said to be GOVERNED (otherwise ungoverned).