Al-Tamari

MAAL 520
English Phrase Structure
Sentences are not formed by simply stringing words together like beads on a necklace. Rather,
sentences have a hierarchical design in which words are grouped together into successively
larger structural units. Such units are called phrases.

Heads:
The lowest level is reserved for the word around which the phrase is built-an N in the case of
NPs, a V in the case of VPs, and so on. This element is called the head of the phrase.

NP VP AP PP Phrase level

N V A P Word level

Specifiers:
Semantically, specifiers help to make more precise the meaning of the head.
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Complements:
A complement is a phrasal or clausal category which is selected (subcategorized) by
the head of a phrase. These elements, which are themselves phrases, provide information about
entities and locations whose existence is implied by the meaning of the head. For example, the
meaning of eat implies an object that is eaten, the meaning of in implies a location, and so on.

A vegetarian would never eat [a hamburger].

head complement naming the thing eaten

in [the house]

head complement naming a location