General pattern of X-bar syntax - BASICS

Function	Useful information	Examples
Determiner	They stand always before the head: Articles Possessives – her, his etc Quantifiers (many,more, less, so, such etc) Demonstratives (this, that etc) ASPECT – in verb phrases – continuous or perfect – symbol ASP Additional words like right, straight etc	A ripe apple So beautiful My bike That fond of Mary He is going to work I have been to England He put the vase straight on the table
Complement	Phrase close to the head, often obligatory: Direct objects Parts of compounds(often adjectives) Prepositional phrases dependent on another phrase Phrases semantically connected with the head (often beginning with “of”)	John gave the book to Mary a pool table fond of her husband look at the table the king of England
Adjunct/Attribute	Additional information: adjectives which describe a noun, adverbs, phrases of time, place, manner, indirect object	He could have easily been killed. She bought the book in the bookshop on Tuesday John gave the book to Mary a wooden table

Exercises:

Draw the trees of these phrases:

[my participation in this contest]

[has bought some flowers for his girlfriend]

[right under the wooden table]

[that bored of the lecture]

[absolutely independently of his research]

[an old English teacher] (ambiguity)

Draw the trees of these sentences:

John will have read the book completely

Students from University of Gdansk have no problems with syntax.

We will pass the exam with flying colours.

He laughed at the clown

I know you love grammar.

We would like you to stay.

I will arrange for my boyfriend to see a specialist.

When will you finally come?

Will you marry me?