English Syntax

This textbook, first published in 2004, provides a concise, clear, and accessible introduction to current syntactic theory, drawing on the key concepts of Chomsky’s Minimalist Program. Assuming little or no prior grammatical knowledge, Andrew Radford takes students through a wide range of topics in English syntax, beginning at an elementary level and progressing in stages towards more advanced material. There is an extensive glossary of technical terms, and each chapter contains a workbook section with ‘helpful hints’, exercises and model answers, suitable for both class discussion and self-study. This is an abridged version of Radford’s major new textbook Minimalist Syntax (also published by Cambridge University Press), and will be welcomed as a short introduction to current syntactic theory.

Review

‘Radford’s new book displays all the qualities we have come to associate with his work: unparalleled clarity, original analyses, and a humorous presentation. He has a unique talent for making even the most abstract ideas accessible. If you want to understand the latest developments in current syntactic theory, read it.’ Neil V. Smith FBA, University College London

‘This textbook shows a healthy (and rare) mix of recent and up-dated discussion of current syntactic theory and a detailed description of English syntax. Students can learn from this volume most of the major syntactic characteristics of English, while becoming ready for more advanced work in linguistic theory.’ Naoki Fukui, Sophia University, Tokyo

‘This new textbook provides a concise overview of most of the major areas of current syntactic theory, and is thoroughly up to date. Over years, my students have told me that they appreciate Andrew Radford’s ability to explain complicated ideas in a simple and down to earth way.’ Tim Stowell, University of California, Los Angeles

Book Description

This textbook, first published in 2004, provides a concise, clear, and accessible introduction to current syntactic theory.

About the Author

Andrew Radford is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Essex.