Recommend books to students. Grammar introduces fertility beautifully as an experimental science. Written in a clear and friendly tone, it is very readable and makes complex language theory available to students – Ken Ramshøj Christensen, Aarhus University, Denmark

This clear and practical introduction to syntactic theory acquaints students with theorizing, testing hypotheses, and evaluation through the framework of the Chomsky’s binding theory. Guides the student through the basics through essential topics such as basic X’-Theory, Transformations, and Binding Theory, to cover more advanced topics such as reconstruction, vP style verb, and control as movement.

This second edition has been updated and revised by providing the basic language theory and problem-solving skills necessary for the subject:

• New content on the minimalist program and the theory of government binding
Extended chapters on phrase structure and functional categories
• Lots of new tree charts as well as modified end-of-season exercises

The free use of in-text exercises engages the reader at each stage of theory development, while an “open issue” at the end of each chapter encourages active participation and further exploration of the topic. Syntactic theory makes the most difficult subjects available to a wide range of students in an engaging and informal style.
Clear, practical, and accessible syntactic theory acquaints students with theory-building and evaluation through government-binding theory. Now completely updated, this second edition has new chapters in the minimalist program, extensively revised chapters on phrase structure and functional categories, and end-of-chapter exercises.