X-bar theory makes the simple proposal that every phrase in every sentence in every language is organized the same way. Every phrase has a head, and each phrase might contain other phrases in the complement or specifier position.
A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here:
https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/essentialsoflinguistics/?p=150
Check Yourself
1. In this tree diagram, what position does the DP
my coffee
occupy?
-
Head.
-
Specifier.
-
Complement.
2. In this tree diagram, what position does the D
my
occupy?
-
Head.
-
Specifier.
-
Complement.
3. In this tree diagram, what position does the NP
Hamilton
occupy?
-
Head.
-
Specifier.
-
Complement.
Answers