English Syntax 1

Constraints on Constituent Structure

English Syntax 1 Constraints on Constituent Structure

Constraints on Constituent Structure

(1) No category may be an immediate constituent of two different
categories.
(2) Every category must be an immediate constituent of some other
category.
(3) Only a string of adjacent categories may be the immediate constituent of
some category.

Violations (structures ruled out by the constraints)

(4) a. A b. A c. A

B C B C B C

X Y Z X Y Z X Y Z
(Ruled out by (1)) (Ruled out by (2)) (Ruled out by (3))

Constraints on Constituent Structure 1

English Syntax 1 Constraints on Constituent Structure

References
Freidin, Robert. 1992. Foundations of Generative Syntax. Cambridge, Mass.:
MIT Press (pp. 6889).

References 2