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 .