Basic English Syntax with Exercises

specifier rule

3.1.1 Rewrite rules and some terminology

The rule in (1b) is the specifier rule, as it introduces a structural position called the specifier (the YP of this rule). The structure it defines is as below:

3.1.5 Adjuncts

Note that the two elements on the right of the rewrite arrow are separated by a comma. This is missing from the complement and specifier rule. The significance of the comma is to indicate that the order between the adjunct and the Xn is not determined by the rule. We have seen that in English the complement follows the head and the specifier precedes it. Adjuncts, on the other hand, it will be seen, may precede or follow the head depending on other conditions, which we will detail when looking at specific instances of adjunction.