Handout 2: Special cases: DP structure, complements on the left

Traditional NP theory

• the traditional NP theory assumes that the N is the head

• this seems to make some sense, after all the noun is the biggest and heaviest thing in the phrase

• lexical phrase, meaning content is the head

newer DP theory

• the newer DP theory says that the determiner is the head, and the noun is the complement of D

• this is based on the distinction of lexical and functional words

• the D therefore also contains meaningful information about singular/plural, case and gender of the complementizing noun

• grammatical content / information - just a higher level of abstractness than the N

Pronouns and articles in the DP theory

• an article is a determiner which takes a noun complement

• a pronoun is a determiner which does not take a noun complement

  • pronoun Ds do not take NP complements

the 2 indefinite articles (one singular, one plural)

For which nouns will articles be used? For which not?

Language choices regarding Names as DPs

a) Keeping the rule to always have a definite article before a name, but by doing so, wasting effort because those articles do not add extra meaning.

b) The definite article is dropped. Articles are only used when the reference is not definite. Then they add meaning when used.

English and German order of VPs

• English: verb > object,

• German: object > verb

PPs in German and English

• German preposition can be on the right,

  • (von dem Kind, in die Stadt, mit dem Fahrrad)

• but they can also be postpositions on the left,

  • (dem Verkehr entgegen, ihm zugute, dem Krankenhaus gegenüber)

• and even adpositions, that can go on either side

  • (wegen der Kinder / der Kinder wegen, entlang der Straße / der Straße entlang)

• English has only one postposition “ago”

On which side are the complements on English and German