Chapter 4 - The Determiner Phrase(76) DP
D'
D NP
all N'
N PP
e (of) the people
With this analysis then we are able to accommodate all the ‘determiners’ found in
English in the appropriate number and order.
4 Conclusion
In this chapter we have introduced the structure of the DP, the projection of a
functional category. We will contrast this in the next chapter with the VP, which is
obviously the projection of a thematic category. As far as the X-bar structure is
concerned, the two are very similar. But, as we know, lexical properties have a very
strong influence on structure and hence we might expect that the phrases headed by
functional and thematic heads will differ to some extent.
As far as the DP is concerned, an important observation that we have made in this
chapter is that the possibilities for its complementation are very limited. Determiners
take NP complements or no complements. This is typical of functional heads and
contrasts strongly with thematic heads. In the next chapter this difference will be made
clear.
Check Questions
1 How can it be argued that proper nouns and plural count nouns are also DPs?
2 What evidence is available to support the assumption that pronouns are
determiners heading a DP?
3 How can the complementation of a D head be characterised?
4 Given the assumption that the ’s morpheme occupies the D head position, what
can appear as [Spec, DP]?
5 What may function as adjuncts in a DP?