This seminar provides an introduction to the key concepts of syntactic theory. It aims to equip students with the tools and concepts required for the analysis of basic syntactic structures and syntactic argumentation. We will learn how to analyze phrases and various sentence types such as root and embedded clauses, questions, and passives within the framework of Chomsky’s Minimalist Program. The discussed topics include phrase types and phrase structure, binding theory, empty categories, finite and non-finite clauses, and different types of A'- and A- dependencies. 

This course will also help students to understand why certain structures are grammatical while others are not, focusing in the English language.