An Introduction to English Syntax

Contents......Page 6
Acknowledgements......Page 10
To colleagues......Page 11
To readers......Page 13
1.1 Heads and modifiers......Page 18
1.2 Heads, modifiers and meaning......Page 20
1.3 Complements and adjuncts......Page 21
1.4 Clauses......Page 22
1.5 Dictionary entries and collocations......Page 24
1.6 Verbs, complements and the order of phrases......Page 25
Exercises......Page 26
2.1 Heads, modifiers and arrangements of words......Page 28
2.2 Tests for phrases......Page 30
2.3 Phrases: words and slots......Page 34
2.4 Coordination......Page 35
2.5 Concluding comments......Page 36
Exercises......Page 38
3.2 Different constructions and different meanings......Page 40
3.3 Types of construction......Page 44
3.4 Relationships between constructions......Page 46
3.5 Copula constructions......Page 47
Exercises......Page 49
4.1 What are word classes?......Page 51
4.2 Criteria for word classes......Page 53
Exercises......Page 62
5.1 Syntax and lexical items......Page 64
5.2 Individual verbs, complements and adjuncts......Page 66
5.3 Classes of verbs and subcategorisation restrictions......Page 68
5.4 Selectional restrictions......Page 69
5.5 Classes of nouns......Page 70
5.6 Subcategorisation, selection and constructions......Page 72
5.7 Fixed phrases......Page 73
Exercises......Page 74
6.1 Clauses and sentences......Page 77
6.2 Main and subordinate clauses......Page 79
6.3 Subordinate clauses......Page 80
6.4 Complementisers and subordinating conjunctions......Page 83
6.5 Recognising clauses......Page 84
Summary......Page 86
Exercises......Page 87
7.1 Main and subordinate clauses......Page 89
7.2 Clause and sentence......Page 90
7.3 More properties of subordinate clauses......Page 94
7.4 Finite and non-finite clauses......Page 98
Exercises......Page 102
8.2 Subject......Page 105
8.3 Direct object......Page 110
8.4 Oblique object and indirect object......Page 112
Summary......Page 115
Exercises......Page 116
9.2 Agreement......Page 118
9.3 Government......Page 120
9.4 Number and person linkage......Page 123
9.5 Syntactic linkage in English......Page 124
9.7 Gender in English......Page 126
Summary......Page 127
Exercises......Page 128
10.1 For and against verb phrases......Page 130
10.2 Verb, core, nucleus and periphery......Page 132
10.3 What is the head of a noun phrase?......Page 133
11.1 Roles, grammar and meaning......Page 136
11.2 Criteria for roles......Page 137
11.3 Roles and role-players......Page 142
11.4 Problems with Patients: planting roses......Page 145
Exercises......Page 148
12.2 Case......Page 150
12.3 Gender......Page 152
12.4 Mood......Page 153
Summary......Page 158
Exercises......Page 159
13.1 Aspect......Page 160
13.2 Tense in English......Page 165
13.3 The English Perfect......Page 166
13.4 Voice......Page 168
13.5 Conclusion......Page 173
Exercises......Page 174
Appendix 1......Page 177
Appendix 2......Page 179
Appendix 3......Page 184
Discussion of the exercises......Page 186
Further reading......Page 202
G......Page 205
T......Page 206
W......Page 207