Introductory syntax

This course introduces a generative approach to sentence structure by guiding students in constructing a partial model of the grammar. Beginning with English and gradually incorporating data from other languages, students consider which properties are language-specific and which may be universal. Along the way, the course develop skills in identifying generalizations, evaluating competing hypotheses, and constructing strong arguments.

• LING 2500: Introduction to Syntax

University of Pennsylvania (2025)

• LING 305: Syntax

Rutgers University (2024, 2025)

• LING-2020: Grammatical Analysis

Georgetown University (2024)

• LING311: Syntax I

University of Maryland (2023)

Advanced and graduate syntax

This course builds on introductory syntax by examining contemporary syntactic theory through the lens of Minimalism. With an emphasis on primary literature, students compare earlier analyses with more recent alternatives, evaluating the motivations, advantages, and tradeoffs associated with successive theoretical developments.

Topics: Agreement & Concord

Subject–verb agreement and concord between nouns and their modifiers both involve the sharing of features, which has led many theories to analyze them with a single mechanism. This course compares unified approaches with those that treat agreement and concord as distinct, evaluating the empirical and theoretical arguments for each.