Basic English Grammar with Exercises

Suggested Answers and Hints - Chapter 7

CP 5

C'

C IP

that DP 7 I'

Mary I vP

gave 8 v'

v vP

t 8 t 7 v'

v VP

t 8 DP V'

his book V PP

t 8 to Jane

Chapter

Check Quesions

Q1 The set of complementizers in English include the words if, that and for

(disregarding any non-overt complementizer for the time being). These elements

introduce clauses and determine what is called the ’force’ of the clause, i.e. whether

the clause is a statement (declarative) or a question (interrogative). Thus, if introduces

interrogative while that and for declarative clauses. The latter two differ in terms of

whether the clause they introduce is finite (that) or non-finite (for). Complementizers

are not part of basic clause structure (i.e. the IP) but they form a constituent with it.

The force, in other words a salient property of a clause is determined by the

complementizer, thus it can be argued that they are heads determining the properties of

the structure they head (compare if they should leave vs that they should leave vs for

them to leave). Heads select their complements and indeed, complementizers select the

type of IP they subcategorise for. Another head-like property manifested by

complementizers is that they are word-level categories and not phrases, followed by

their complement phrase (the IP) which renders them strikingly similar to other

functional heads taking only one type of complement.