Analysing English Sentence Structure An Intermediate Course in Syntax

This chapter examines the syntax of the subperiphery (between the verb phrase and the periphery). It begins (Module 6.1) by arguing that subjects are housed in a separate SUBJP/subject projection which is positioned above the TP/tense projection housing finite auxiliaries. Module 6.2 goes on to argue that subperipheral adverbials are not adjuncts (as in earlier work), but rather specifiers of dedicated functional heads (e.g. probably is the specifier of an epistemic modal head). Module 6.3 then looks at word order variation in the position of adverbs with respect to subjects and auxiliaries, noting that this can arise when subjects/auxiliaries move around adverbs. Module 6.4 subsequently argues that subperipheral prepositional phrases and floating quantifiers are likewise housed in functional projections of their own, leading to the broader conclusion that all peripheral and subperipheral constituents are housed in dedicated functional projections. The chapter concludes with a Summary (Module 6.5), Bibliography (Module 6.6), and Workbook (Module 6.7), with some Workbook exercise examples designed for self-study, and others for assignments/seminar discussion.