An Introduction To Generative Syntax According To Generative Theories

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An Introduction to Generative Syntax according to

Generative Theories
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An introduction
to syntax according
to Generative
Grammar Theories
Xavier Frı́as Conde
ROMANIA MINOR
Aula Prima 2
Todos los derechos reservados.
c Francisco-Xavier Frı́as Conde

°
c 2005 Romania Minor
°
http://www.romaniaminor.net
[email protected]
ISSN: 1616-413X
Equipo editorial
Director académico: Francisco-Xavier Frı́as Conde
Director técnico: Francesc González i Planas
Diseño de la cubierta: Sonia Verde Sánchez
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reproducción, distribución, comunicación pública y transformación de esta
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Este libro ha sido editado con el procesador LATEX.

Contents
1 An Introduction to Semantics 5
1.1 Generative Grammar (GG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 Before syntax, there is semantics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.3 A theory of semantics based on ≪predicates≫ and ≪valen-
cies≫ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.4 Kinds of predicates according to the number of valencies
they need . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.5 How to represent Predicate Frames (PF) . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.6 Compulsory and adjunct valencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2 The Fundamentals of Syntax 11

2.1 Syntax and Grammar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.2 Word classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2.3 The X-bar theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.4 Into the syntactic representation of a sentence: VP and IP 13
3 The theory of case 17

3.1 What a case is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.2 Declension in Latin, Czech and German . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.3 Samples of declension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.3.1 Saxon and Norman Genitive in English . . . . . . 20
4 Kernel and non-kernel sentences 21

4.1 Kernel sentences and other added items . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2 Negative Phrase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.3 Interrogative Phrase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
4.4 Focus Phrase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.5 Topic Phrase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3
4 An Introduction to Syntax According to GG Theories
5 The vp-shell 29
5.1 What is the vp-shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5.2 The vp-shell and the Indirect Object . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
5.3 A frequency adverb: double specifier . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
5.4 The passive voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
5.5 An ergative sentence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6 Completive Clauses 35
6.1 Complementiser Phrase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.2 Completive clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.3 A to-clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
6.4 Clauses with -ing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
6.5 A That-clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6.6 An attached clause: conditional clause . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.7 Object rise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6.8 Clauses with for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6.9 An attached clause: conditional clause . . . . . . . . . . . 43
7 Relative Clauses 45
7.1 What a relative clause is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
7.2 Relative pronoun as an object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
7.3 Relative pronoun as a subject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
7.4 Relative pronoun within the object . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
7.5 More questions concerning relative pronouns . . . . . . . . 48
Chapter 1
An Introduction to
Semantics
1.1 Generative Grammar (GG)

• GG is a theory of Grammar based on Noam Chomsky’s principles.
• It is mainly based on syntax, though some other disciplines of

linguistics can be approached by means of GG.
• Along these notes, we will study the main elements of this the-
ory applied to English and, occasionally, to some other languages,
mainly Romance ones.
1.2 Before syntax, there is semantics

• All current linguistic theories take semantics as their starting point.
• Semantics is the base from which all the rest of disciplines develop.
• Words (i.e., the recipients of meaning) are the first items children
acquire.
5
1.3 A theory of semantics based on ≪pred-

icates≫ and ≪valencies≫
• In order to understand the semantic value of a clause, we need
settle the different kinds of predicates existing in any language.
• A predicate is a semantic term to refer to what is commonly known
as verb.
• Predicates are then the cornerstone of sentence semantics.
• WPredicates may need some adjacent elements that complement
their meaning.
– *I bought.
– In this example, the sentence lacks an item, a ‘what’.
– *Learned French.
– In this sentence, one doesn’t know ‘who’ learned French.
• In the former examples, both predicates, ‘buy’ and ‘learn’ need
some extra adjacent elements which complement their whole mean-
ing. Without these extra elements, predicates can’t make up cor-
rect sentences.
• The accompanying elements around a predicate are ≪ valencies≫.
• Therefore, predicates may require valencies to achieve a whole
meaning.
1.4 Kinds of predicates according to the num-

ber of valencies they need
• Predicates containing no valencies: avalents.
It is raining
• Predicates containing one valency: monovalents.
<The dog> is barking
• Predicates containing two valencies: bivalents.

Xavier Frı́as Conde 7
<Mary> watched <a good film>
• Predicates containing three valencies: trivalents.
<Sarah> just put <the books> <on the table>
1.5 How to represent Predicate Frames (PF)

• The semantic structures of Predicate Frames can be represented
through some kind of trees called stemmas.
PF
(X) P
(Y) (Z)
• Codes

The first valency, or outer one, is the
X first valency


one that ≪triggers≫ events, actions or

Y second valency
processes. It is usually identified with the
Z third valency 

syntactic subject.


sb somebody 

something It refers to the semantic nature of the va-

sth
swh somewhere 
 lency: person, thing, place, manner...
swy someway

• Exemples
Open :< xsb >< ysth >
< Johnx > opened < the doory >
PF
xsb open
ysth
Watch :< xsb >< ysb/sth >

< Isb > watch < yousb /the filmsth >
PF
xsb watch
ysb/sth
Arrive :< xsb/sth >k< xsb/sth >< yswh >

< Isb > can’t arrive yet
PF
xsb/sth arrive
< The bookssth > didn’t arrive < at the libraryswh >
PF
xsb arrive
yswh
1.6 Compulsory and adjunct valencies

• In many cases, predicates are accompanied by items which can be
dropped.
– George bought some magazines <at the station> <before the
departure>
– George bought some magazines <before the departure>
– George bought some magazines <at the station>
– George bought some magazines
• Non-eliminable elements.
– George bought <some magazines> at the station before the
departure
– *George bought at the station before the departure
• The compulsory elements are called actants. They are settled by
the predicate.
• The optional elements are called satellites. They usually express

external circumstances such as time, manner, place, cause, etc.
• So the hierarchy of semantics items is as follows:
1. Predicates
2. Actants
3. Satellites
• This hierarchization is quite important when attending to syntax.
• Predicates are always the starting point for any syntactic analysis
or parsing, since they.
Chapter 2
The Fundamentals of
Syntax
2.1 Syntax and Grammar

• Syntax is the branch of linguistics devoted to the study of struc-
tures, i.e. the way in which words combine to express meaning
through sentences.
• Words combine to make up sentences.
• The rules to combine words vary from language to language.
• If we compare both Spanish and English we can see this easily:
1. Sp. Tengo hambre −→ litt. ? I have hunger =⇒ I am hungry
2. Eng. I like animals −→ litt. *Yo gusto animales =⇒ Me
gustan los animales
3. Sp. Hablo bien alemán −→ litt. *I speak well German =⇒ I
speak German well
2.2 Word classes

• Words belong to two major categories: lexical and functional ones.
• Lexical words are these having a complete meaning, so that they
are the base of sentences.
11
• Functional words are mainly used with grammar purposes, such

as it happens with conjunctions and all kinds of links, as well as
morphemes.
• In GG this distinction is not always applied in this way. According

to GG literature, there are four major kinds of words, which are
the skeleton of syntax, being verbs the head of them:
– Verbs (V)
– Prepositions (P)
– Nouns (N)
– Adjectives (A)
2.3 The X-bar theory

• The way to combine words to make up a sentence is represented
by means of the so-called ‘X-bar’.
• X-bar refers to phrases.
• A phrase is a complex structure where a major element, its head,

develops to incorporate other elements that complement its mean-
ing.
• Let’s take the example of a verb phrase. It also has two other
attached elements depending on it. One is the subject and the
other one is the object.
VP
NP V”
John
V’ ZP
V NP
has doubts
The first NP is embedded at the beginning of the tree, then there is a certain
ZP which represent an Adverbial, now not included. At bottom, there is the
verb and another NP, the object.
It seems evident that the verb is the head of all this structure. All the rest of
elements depend on it.
If you compare this syntactic structure with a predicate frame, the similitude
is enormous.
• The ≪abstract≫ representation of the X-bar, according to the pre-

vious model, is like this:
XP
YP X”
specifier
X’ ZP
adjunct
X YP
head complement
– Head: the major item which controls and determines the

category of the other ones.
– Specifier: outer item which has a an initial relationship with
the head, such as it happens between subject and verb.
– Complement: inner item which emerges as a result of the
verb projection, such as it happens between object and verb.
– Adjunct: an extra element which can be avoided or dropped,
such it happens with most adverbs referring to time, place,
manner, etc.
– Both specifiers and complements are related to actants, while
adjuncts are related to satellites.
2.4 Into the syntactic representation of a

sentence: VP and IP
• The minimal structure of any sentence, in any language, is com-
posed by Inflection Phrase (IP) and Verbal Phrase (VP).
• IP is a functional category representing certain elements:
– Time
– Person (said Agreement, for example, between the predicate
and the subject)
– Aspect
∗ Perfective (a completed action)
∗ Imperfective (an uncompleted or unfinished action)
– Voice
∗ Active
∗ Passive
∗ Medial
– Etc.
• A verb needs rise from V to I to take inflection:1
IP
I’
I VP
-ed NP V’
John V
yawn-
• The rise is necessary for the verb (stem) to take an inflection

(endings):
IP
NP2 I”
John I’ VP
V1 I t2 V’
yawn- -ed t1
1 In this case, I(nflection) stands for 3PS, simple past.

Observe also how in English, as well as in many other languages, the subject
compulsory follows the verb in this movement upwards (called a-movement in
GG. The movement of the items is expressed by means of subindexes.
• A similar example applied to a Romance language (Italian):

IP
NP2 I”
Piero I’ VP
V1 I t2 V’
cant- -ò t1
• A similar example applied to Czech:

IP
NP2 I”
Pavel I’ VP
V1 I t2 V’
stud - -uje t1
Chapter 3
The theory of case
3.1 What a case is

• Case is a category corresponding to nouns and adjectives (and also
demonstratives, articles and other determiners).
• It marks out the role they play within a sentence.
• Cases are narrowly linked to syntactic functions.
• Eg.:
– Subject function is performed by a noun or NP in nominative.

– Direct Object function is performed by a noun or NP in ac-
cusative.
• Cases are mostly assigned by verbs, but not always:
– Nominative: It is the case by default; whenever a noun

doesn’t have a case, it takes nominative.
– Accusative and dative: these are assigned by the verb.
– Genitive: it is assigned by another noun.
– Ablative, Instrumental, Locative...: they are assigned by
prepositions in English.
• Some languages have special endings for cases and some others
don’t.
17
• All Romance languages and English (except for the so-called Saxon
Genitive) lack declension endings (except for personal pronouns).
• Latin, German and Czech (as well as most Slav languages) do have
endings to mark the case of adjectives and nouns.
3.2 Declension in Latin, Czech and German
Table 3.1: The first declension in Latin.

SG PL
Nominative rosa rosae
Accusative rosam rosas
Genitive rosae rosarum
Dative rosae rosis
Ablative rosa rosis
Table 3.2: An example of declension in Czech.

SG PL
Nominative student studenti
Accusative studenta studenty
Genitive studenta studentů
Dative studentovi studentům
Instrumental studentem studenty
Locative studentovi studentech
Table 3.3: The declension of Mann in German.∗

SG PL
Nominative der Mann die Männer
Accusative den Mann die Männer
Genitive des Mannes der Männer
Dative dem Mann den Männern
∗ Together with the definite article.
3.3 Samples of declension

• Nominative
– Lt: Petrus amicus meus est
– En: Peter is my friend
– Fr: Pierre est mon camarade
– Gr: Peter ist mein Freund
– Cz: Petr je můj kamarád
• Accusative
– Lt: Petrum video
– En: I see Peter
– Fr: Je vois Pierre
– Gr: Ich sehe Peter
– Cz: Vidı́m Petra
• Genitive
– Lt: Domus Petri magna est
– En: Peter’s house is big
– Fr: La maison de Pierre est grande
– Gr: Peters Haus ist groß
– Cz: Dům Petra je velký
• Dative
– Lt: Petro presentem do
– En: I give Peter a present / I give a present to Peter
– Fr: Je donne un cadeau à Pierre
– Gr: Ich giebe Peter ein Geschänk
– Cz: Dám darek Petrovi
• Ablative (Instrumental)
– Lt: (cum) Petro sum
– En: I am with Peter
– Fr: Je suis avec Pierre
– Gr: Ich bin mit Peter
– Cz: Jsem s Petrem
3.3.1 Saxon and Norman Genitive in English
SD DP
D NP D NP
NP N’ The N PP
John’s N
number of students
car
Chapter 4
Kernel and non-kernel

sentences
4.1 Kernel sentences and other added items

• All simple sentences require the minimal structure already men-
tioned:
ip [i [vp [v []]]]
• This minimal structure of a sentence is known as kernel sentence.
• Anyway, some other items may be added to simple sentences:
– Negation: Peter doesn’t understand it.

– Interrogation: Did you buy the newspaper today?
– Focalisation: My car they stole!
– Topicalisation: In the morning, we will leave.
• Each of these structures are represented by means of a functional

phrase:
– Negation: NegP (Negative Phrase)

– Interrogation: IntP (Interrogative Phrase)
– Focalisation: FocP (Focus Phrase)
– Topicalisation: TopP (Topic Phrase)
21
4.2 Negative Phrase

• In English Modal verbs are required
IP
DP1 I’
The boy I NegP
did t1 Neg’
Neg VP
not
t1 V’
V DP
understand a word
The movement of the subject is always a rising one in English. Observe how it
moves jumping through all the specifier nodes until reaches the top position.
• In most Romance languages (others than French and Occitan),

negation is instead placed at the beginning:
– Sp: Pedro no tiene trabajo

– Pt: O Pedro não tem trabalho
– It: Piero non ha lavoro
NegP
DP2 Neg’
Piero Neg IP
non t2 I’
I1 VP
ha t2 V’
V NP
t1 lavoro
• In Czech, negation works in a similar way as in Romance languages:
NegP
DP2 Neg’
Petr Neg1 IP
nemá t2 I’
I1 VP
t1 t2 V’
V NP
t1 praci
• In Czech, the negation head (ne-) is merged to the verb; in some

Romance languages we also interprete negation in the same way,
such as in the Iberian languages, though in spelling negation and
verb are separated:
NegP
DP2 Neg’
Pedro
Neg1 IP
no tiene t2 I’
I1 VP
t1 t2 V’
V NP
t1 trabajo
4.3 Interrogative Phrase

• In English, an interrogation is built up by means of a IntP that is
always placed on top.
• There are two kinds of questions:
– Closed questions: with an auxiliary verb but no wh-word: the

answer is usually yes/no.
– Open questions, with a wh-word.
IntP
Int’
Int IP
Did I’
I VP
t
you buy any bread
IntP
NP2 Int’
Where Int1 IP
do I’
I VP
t1 NP V’
you V t2
live
The movement of the interrogative element, a wh-word is direct. It

doesn’t jump along the different nodes, as the rising subject does, but
reaches the top position straight ahead.
The main difference between this open question and a closed one
lies on the complexity of the structure of the open question. Take into
account that open questions require a rising item which moves from
VP into IntP. This rising item may be generated anywhere (specifier,
complement or adjunct).
4.4 Focus Phrase

Focalisation is not very frequent in English, though it is quite usual in
other languages, such as Romance ones. As a matter of fact, focalisation
and interrogation work in the same way, where the focused elements
moves forward straight ahead.
FocP
DP3 Foc’
All the bread

Foc IP
NP2 I’
you I1 VP
ate t2 V’
V t3
t1
This is an example of focalisation applied to Standard Italian:
FocP
DP2 Foc’
I ragazzi
Foc IP
pro1 I’
I VP
abbiamo
t1 V’
V t2
aspettati
pro: this is an element not to be found in English, unless we treat with

imperative clauses. This pro stands for covert or omitted subjects, usual in
most Romance languages or Czech.
4.5 Topic Phrase

The main difference between a Topic and a Focus stands on their se-
mantic status. Focus are elements generated within VP that rise up in
order to be emphasised (i.e., they transform an unmarked sentence into
a marked one).
TopP
DP3 Top’
Yesterday
Top IP
NP2 I’
we
I1 VP
worked t2 V’
V t3
t1
Instead, topics are added elements that can be dropped without affect-
ing the correcteness of the sentence. They usually refer to time, place,
manner and other semantic items.
Chapter 5
The vp-shell
5.1 What is the vp-shell

Whenever there is a sentence having two objects (remember the so-called
bivalent verbs), GG has to introduce a new way to analyse this kind of
sentence.
In these cases, verbs need to be spread out so that the three com-
pulsory items accompanying the verb may fit in the syntactic structure.
For this purpose, vp shell is introduced, so that we can still consider it
as a kernel sentence.
Observe the PF corresponding to give and its vp-shell representation:
PF IP
Xsb give I’
I vp
Ysth Zto sb
v’
v VP
29
5.2 The vp-shell and the Indirect Object

In a sentence like I gave a book to John, there are three compulsory ele-
ment: subject, direct object and indirect object. Their generation is as
follows.
IP
I’
I vp
NP v’
subject
v VP
NP V’
direct object
V PP
indirect object
t
IP
NP2 I’
I
I1 vp
gave t2 v’
v VP
t1
NP V’
a book V PP
t1 to John
It is, however, quite usual that Od and Oi are placed in different order
in English: I gave John a book. This change may also be represented by
means of vp.
IP
NP2 I’
I
I1 vp
gave
t2 v’
v’ VP
v NP3 NP V’
t1 John a book V t3
t1
5.3 A frequency adverb: double specifier

Frequency adverbs (and some other usual adverbs) always have a fixed
position in the clause: a double specifier in vp.
IP
NP2 I’
I
I vp
have
t2 vp
ADV v’
already
v1 VP
put
DP V’
the books V PP
t1 on the shelf
Anyway, the double specifier could be in IP, namely when the verb
is simple.
IP
NP2 IP
I
ADV I’
already
I1 vp
put
t2 v’
v VP
t1
DP V’
the books V PP
t1 on the self
5.4 The passive voice

The passive voice may be understood as containing a vp. It is probably
better to include a new functional phrase, but for reasons of simplicity,
we will treat passive voices as being composed of a vp and a VP, but
they are not properly kernel sentences.
In this case, the subject is originated in the node of complement
and immediately moves to the specifier node.
IP
DP2 I’
The papers
I1 vp
were t2 v’
v VP
t1
t2 V’
V t2
sold out
A passive sentence having an originally Oi as its subject must be analysed

with a double vp, being the first one the corresponding to passivisation
and the second one to ditransitive sentences.
IP
DP2 I’
The children I3 vp 1
were t2 v ’1
v vp 2
t3
t2 v ’2
v VP
given
DP V’
a present t1 t2
5.5 An ergative sentence

An ergative sentence in English is one suffering an important transfor-
mation: an initially transitive sentence loses its subject but its object
occupies its place.
S V O
S V
In this way, the agent of the process disappears: The torpedo sank the
ship −→ The ship 1 sank t1 .
IP
DP2 I’
The ship
I1 vp
sank t2 v’
v VP
t1 t2 V’
V t2
t1
In most Romance languages, ergative sentences are built by means of se,

which is originally generated under vp.
IP
DP2 I’
El barco
I1 vp
se hundió t2 v’
v1 VP
t1 t2 V’
V t2
t1
Chapter 6
Completive Clauses
6.1 Complementiser Phrase

• A complex sentence is one having two or more clauses.
• Up to now, we have just seen simple sentences, i.e., sentences con-
taining only one clause.
• Whenever there is a complex sentence, there is a main clause and
a dependent clause.
• Dependent clauses may be:
– Attached: If I were you, I would change that bulb k When
you finish that, you can leave.
– Embedded:
· Completives: He said that he didn’t understand that
sentence.
· Relatives: The man whom we helped was blessed.
• All dependent clauses are introduced by means of a complemen-
tiser, which is expanded into the category of complementiser
phrase.
6.2 Completive clause

Completive clauses are usually introduced by:
35
• To, in which case the verb is in infinitive: Mark hopes to be suc-

cessful.
• That, in which case the clause behaves: Mark hopes (that) you’ll
be successful.
• Whether/if, though these work as the former ones: I don’t know

whether/if he’s right.
6.3 A to-clause
Infinitive clauses in English must take to in most cases. Here the verb
doesn’t rise (there’s no α-movement). PRO stands for an absent subject,
which can never be overt (=explicit), but it coincides to be the same as
in the main clause.
A pro is instead an covert subject, which can be overt at any mo-
ment. In Romance languages or Czech this is quite usual.
IP
NP2 I’
I
I1 VP
hope t2 V’
V CP
t1
C IP
<e>
I VP
to PRO V’
V AP
be successful
6.4 Clauses with -ing

Clause with -ing are supposed no to have any kind of introductory par-
ticle (like to).
IP
NP2 I’
I
I1 VP
like
t2 V’
V CP
t1
C IP
<e>
I VP
<e>
PRO V’
V AP
playing golf
6.5 A That-clause
In this case, the that-clause behaves exactly as a simple clause, suffering
all the α-movements.
IP
NP2 I’
I
I1 VP
hope
t2 V’
V CP
t1
C IP
that
NP3 I’
you I VP
will t3 V’
V AP
be successful
6.6 An attached clause: conditional clause

A conditional clause is the typical example of an attached clause. It
also works independently, though it must be introduced by means of a
complementiser, in this case if, the usual link word.
TopP
CP Top’
C IP
Top IP
If you are hungry
NP1 I’
you
I VP
can t1 V’
V NP
eat anything
6.7 Object rise

Verbs like want, like, invite, offer, etc. ≪attract≫ the object of the
completive sentence into the main one.
CP is usually a border that can’t be overcome, however, certain verbs
are strong enough to attract the subject of the second clause into the
first one; however, they change their original nominative case into ac-
cusative, since there’s already one nominative-subject operator.
IP
NP2 I’
We
I1 vp
want
t2 v’
v VP
t1
NP3 V’
her
V
Clause border
t1
CP
C IP
<e> t3 I’
I VP
to t3 V
study
6.8 Clauses with for

Certain clauses are also to-completives, but they include a for which is
usually accompanied by an object pronoun, in fact the subject of the
completive clause.
IP
NP2 I’
We
I1 VP
bought
t2 V’
V’ PP
V DP
P’ CP
t1 the book
P NP3 C IP
for her to t3 I’
I VP
<e> t3 V
study
Final clauses in Portuguese work exactly the same, with the excep-
tion that the subject remains in nominative because there’s no rise to
the preposition node.
IP
pro2 I’
I1 VP
comprámos
t2 V’
V’ PP
V DP
P’ CP
t1 o livro
P NP3 C IP
para ela
t3 I’
I VP
<e> t3 V
estudar
6.9 An attached clause: conditional clause

A conditional clause is the typical example of an attached clause. It
also works independently, though it must be introduced by means of a
complementiser, in this case if, the usual link word.
TopP
CP Top’
C IP Top IP
If you are hungry NP1 I’
you
I VP
can t1 V’
V NP
eat anything
Chapter 7
Relative Clauses
7.1 What a relative clause is

Relative clauses are formed by the union of two independent clauses
having one common item:
{You bought a book} + {The book was interesting}

⇓
You bought a book that was interesting
In the former examples, the book is considered the referent. The

pronoun that needs this referent to acquire a meaning. Relative pronouns
have a syntactic function within the clause (subject, object, etc.).
One of the main differences between a completive and a relative clause
lies on the place that the link words occupy:
• In completive clauses, the complementiser has no syntactic func-

tion, so it is a head.
CP
<e> C’
C IP
• In relative clauses, the relative pronoun isn’t a complementiser, so

it occupies a specifier position.
45
CP
NP C’
C IP
<e>
Relative clauses are introduced by a CP. The behaviour of relative

clauses is exactly the same of interrogative phrases.
7.2 Relative pronoun as an object

That is here the object of the relative clause. It could also be omitted,
in which case it would be a pro.
IP
DP I
I1 VP
D NP
is t2 V
The
N2 CP
V AP
book
DP5 C t1 very interesting
that
C IP
<e>
DP4 i
you
I3 VP
bought
t4 V
V t5
t3
7.3 Relative pronoun as a subject

Who is here the subject of the relative clause. That could also be possible
here.
IP
DP I
I1 VP
D NP
is t2 V
The
N2 CP
V AP
man
DP 4 C t1 very funny
who
C IP
<e>
I3 VP
jumped t4 V
V PP
t3 over the hedge

7.4 Relative pronoun within the object

Who is here the subject of the relative clause. That could also be pos-
sible here.
IP
DP2 I’
I
I1 VP
knew
t2 V’
t1 DP
D NP
the
N CP
man
DP4 C’
who
C IP
I3 VP
smiled t4 V
t3
7.5 More questions concerning relative pro-

nouns
Other relative pronouns fulfil different functions. So, when or where have
also a relative use even in time and place clauses, as in:
IP [ CP [ When the autumn arrives] everybody gets nervous ]

How may also work similarly in:
IP [ CP [ How1 you manage your business t1 ]2 is a mystery t2 ]

Language Index
Czech, 18, 19, 23, 26, 36
English, 5, 11, 15, 17–20, 22, 24–

26, 31, 34, 36–38
French, 19, 22
German, 18, 19
Iberian languages, 23
Italian, 15, 22, 26
Latin, 18, 19
Occitan, 22
Portuguese, 22, 42
Romance language(s), 5, 15, 18,

22, 23, 25, 34, 36
Slav languages, 18
Spanish, 11, 22
49
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An Introduction to Generative Syntax according to

Book · September 2003

Xavier Frias Conde

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2 The Fundamentals of Syntax 11

3 The theory of case 17

4 Kernel and non-kernel sentences 21

1.1 Generative Grammar (GG)

• It is mainly based on syntax, though some other disciplines of

1.2 Before syntax, there is semantics

1.3 A theory of semantics based on ≪pred-

1.4 Kinds of predicates according to the num-

• Predicates containing one valency: monovalents.

<The dog> is barking

• Predicates containing two valencies: bivalents.

<Mary> watched <a good film>

• Predicates containing three valencies: trivalents.

<Sarah> just put <the books> <on the table>

1.5 How to represent Predicate Frames (PF)

Watch :< xsb >< ysb/sth >

Arrive :< xsb/sth >k< xsb/sth >< yswh >

1.6 Compulsory and adjunct valencies

• The optional elements are called satellites. They usually express

• So the hierarchy of semantics items is as follows:

• This hierarchization is quite important when attending to syntax.

2.1 Syntax and Grammar

2.2 Word classes

• Functional words are mainly used with grammar purposes, such

• In GG this distinction is not always applied in this way. According

2.3 The X-bar theory

• X-bar refers to phrases.

• A phrase is a complex structure where a major element, its head,

• The ≪abstract≫ representation of the X-bar, according to the pre-

– Head: the major item which controls and determines the

2.4 Into the syntactic representation of a

• IP is a functional category representing certain elements:

• The rise is necessary for the verb (stem) to take an inflection

1 In this case, I(nflection) stands for 3PS, simple past.

• A similar example applied to a Romance language (Italian):

• A similar example applied to Czech:

The theory of case

3.1 What a case is

• It marks out the role they play within a sentence.

• Cases are narrowly linked to syntactic functions.

– Subject function is performed by a noun or NP in nominative.

• Cases are mostly assigned by verbs, but not always:

– Nominative: It is the case by default; whenever a noun

3.2 Declension in Latin, Czech and German

Table 3.1: The first declension in Latin.

Table 3.2: An example of declension in Czech.

Table 3.3: The declension of Mann in German.∗

3.3 Samples of declension