Basic English Syntax with Exercises

Suggested Answers for Check Questions

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.