Tree Builder

LING 203 · X-bar trees with CP, TP and DP

Level

How to draw top-down

Start with CP. Every clause is CP > C′ > C + TP.
Then TP > subject DP + T′, and T′ > T + VP.
Expand each node left to right, top to bottom, until every head has a word or Ø.

This tool uses null T: when there is no auxiliary or modal, T is Ø with a tense feature, Ø[+past] or Ø[−past], and the verb keeps the tense ending.

Color key

Ccomplementizer Ttense, modal Ddeterminer Nnoun Vverb Aadjective Advadverb Ppreposition

VP phrase V′ bar level V head, word below Colored lines join one projection. Grey lines join a phrase to a different head.

Sentence

Bracket notation