(Based on Radford (1988), Chapter 2)

Preposing

Only phrasal constituents (i.e. whole phrases) can undergo Preposing.

(1) I cant stand your elder sister .

(2)

a. Your elder sister I can’t stand.

b. * Your elder I can’t stand sister .

c. * Elder sister I can’t stand your .

d. * Sister I can’t stand your elder .

e. * Your I can’t stand elder sister .

(6)

a. SPEAKER A: What do you think of [ NP the [ N guy] who wrote that unbelievably boring book onTransformational Grammar]?

b. SPEAKER B: I can't stand [ NP him] .

c. SPEAKER B: *I can't stand [ NP the [ N him] who wrote that unbelievably boring [ N book] onTransformational Grammar]

(8)

a. SPEAKER A: Have you ever been [ PP to Paris] ?

b. SPEAKER B: No, I have never been [ PP there] .

(9) Lilly [ VP went home early] .

(10)

a. Sandy [ VP did so] , too.

b. Sandy will [ VP do so] , too.

c. Sandy might [ VP do so] , too.