Multiple semantic processes at different levels of syntactic hierarchy: Does the higher-level process proceed in face of a lower-level failure?

► Chinese sentences with the structure “subject noun+verb+numeral+classifier+object noun” were used. ► Semantic congruence between verb, classifier and object noun was manipulated. ► The object noun showed increased N400 and late negativity responses over conditions. ► The local mismatch additionally elicited a posterior P600 effect on the object noun. ► The semantic process at a higher level can proceed in face of local failures.