CP and TP Model of syntax

Lexicon

he: [+noun], [+nom], [+3], [+sing], [+male]

merge

syntax

He pwned Fred What’s missing from our tree?

John

pwned Fred What’s wrong with these?

*John pwned [Fred] and [tall].

*John pwned [the tall boy] and [at the tournament]. Head

D: A head is the element that controls the syntactic behavior of the phrase.

• *John pwned [DP the tall boy] and [PP at the tournament].

Tense Phrases (TP)

A sentence consists of a subject and a predicate (a clause). • The man followed John. A sentence may have a word indicating tense. • The man will follow John.

Tense joins with the verb phrase to make a constituent. • The man [will follow John].

Tense Phrases (TP) 1. T merges with VP first to form a constituent (T') 2. T' joins with a DP subject.

head of TP Why is the sentence a TP?

T determines the distribution of the TP.

I prefer [CP that [TP she arrives early]]. *I prefer [CP that [TP her to arrive early]].

*I prefer [CP for [TP she arrives early]]. I prefer [CP for [TP her to arrive early]].

That requires a finite TP; for requires a non-finite TP (one containing to).

So we can see that the T head helps determine where the TP can occur. What is the head of TP?

In a sentence, the head of TP is what tells you about Tense. • The man will follow John.

What about? • The man followed John. • The man often follows John. -ed & -s tell you about Tense, but for now we’ll write them as part of the Verb.

What if there is no word in T?

• The man followed John. • The man often follows John. • I often follow John.

For now, if there is no word like will, write Ø as the head of Tense.

TPs

Complementizer Phrase (CP)

1. CPs consist of a complementizer (the head) followed by a TP

-that, for, if, whether

Next Saturday, you’ll see [CP that BYU beats Florida].

John knows [CP if/whether/that she left].

John wishes [CP for her to leave]. CPs 2. C merges with a tense phrase (TP).

I hope [CP that [TP she arrives early]]. Complementizer Phrase (CP)

3. Some CPs can be the subject of a sentence.

[CP That BYU beat UNLV] is amazing.

[CP For John to come] would be nice.

*[CP If she left] would be nice.

CPs

4. CPs can only occur with certain main verbs.

I know/believe/hope [CP that she is coming].

I *kick/*ate/*drive [CP that she is coming].

Whether a verb allows a CP complement is specified in the lexicon. CPs

5. Distribution of the embedded clause is sensitive to the type of C head. In other words, if a verb allows a CP, it may only allow certain CPs.

I didn’t know [CP that/whether/if she was coming].

John asked [CP *that/whether/if she was coming]. I think [that/*whether/*if she is coming]. Complements The head can join with a phrase to make a constituent. This phrase is called a complement.

• [DP the [NP tall boy]]

• [PP at [DP the tournament]]. In English, the complement follows the head.

Tense Phrases (TP)

head of TP complement of T/TP Specifier The constituent consisting of the head & comp (the bar level) can join with a phrase to make a constituent.

This is called a specifier. Specifiers are on the left in English

specifier of TP head of TP Complement of T/TP • Every phrase has a head. • A phrase may have a comp or spec.

Complement of T/TP specifier of TP

head of TP

Complement of C/CP

head of CP