Undergraduate Introduction to Syntax (Lectures, Spring 2026)

I will use this blog post to distribute my lectures for 'Grammatical Analysis I' which is the undergraduate introduction to syntax at NYU. This course uses Merge as a pedagogical tool to teach students the basics of syntax. I will try to post all my weekly lectures here this year.

Syllabus

Lecture 1 (Syntactic Data)

Lecture 2 (UG and I-Language)

Lecture 3 (Syntactic Categories)

Assignment 1

Lecture 4 (Merge)

Lecture 5 (Constituent Structure Tests)

Lecture 6 (Functional Projections TP)

Lecture 6 (Supplementary Example)

Lecture 7 (Complementizers, CP and Recursion)

Assignment 2

Lecture 8 (DP Structure)

Lecture 8 (Pronominal Possessors)

Lecture 8 (Supplementary Exercises)

Lecture 9 (Complements versus Adjuncts)

Lecture 9 (Supplement on Coordination)

Lecture 10 (Theta-Roles)

Lecture 10 (Supplementary Exercises)

Assignment 3

Lecture 11 (Binding Theory)

Mid-Term Review

Lecture 12 (English Auxiliary Verbs)

Lecture 13 (V to T)

Lecture 13 (Supplement on Negation)

Lecture 14 (Do-Support)

Assignment 4

Lecture 15 (Structure Dependence)

Lecture 15 (T to C)

Lecture 15 (Supplementary Exercises)

Lecture 16 (Internal Merge)

Lecture 16 (Supplement on Relative Clauses)

Lecture 16 (Supplementary Exercises)

Lecture 17 (Passive and Case Theory)

Assignment 5

Lecture 18 (VP-Internal Subjects)

Lecture 19 (Raising versus Control)

Lecture 20 (DOCs and VP-Shells)

Assignment 6

Tree Drawing Contest

Lecture 21 (Principles and Parameters)

Final Review

Grammatical Analysis I: Merge (Lecture 4, Spring 2025)

 Here is the lecture on Merge, in the fourth lecture.

After this, Merge is the basis for everything we talk about in the semester.

Lecture 4: Merge

Grammatical Analysis I (Assignment 2)(Spring 2025)

 Here is my second assignment for the undergraduate introduction to syntax.

Chris

Assignment 2

Grammatical Analysis I (Spring 2025)

This is the syllabus for the first semester of undergraduate syntax at NYU.

I would be happy to discuss it with people who are interested. I have two

main guidelines:

a. I try to use Merge as a pedagogical tool throughout the semester.

b. I try to make the course as hands-on as possible, with in-class activities.

Syllabus: Grammatical Analysis I (Spring 2025)