Specifier

In the X -bar linguistic theory one specifier (also specifier ) is part of a phrase. Other ingredients include phrases head and complements. Specifiers differ from complements in that they do not connect directly with the phrase header, but with an already extended constituent; the specifier is the last supplement that completes the phrase. In most cases it is prepended to the remainder of the phrase.

For example, the following words ( possibly phrases) are noun phrases before: the, none, some, all, or Peters. Adverbials provisions can be strengthened or weakened, for example by very, extremely, or more.

Specifiers are so named because they continue to run the category of the phrase head ( qualify ).

Set of examples:

• Chloe likes [ many books ]. - Determines many books detail in the noun phrase
• It is [ relatively tired ]. - Determined relative tired detail in the adverbial

In more recent transformational grammar is the term specifier not of type a word or phrase meant, but a structurally determined position. In this regard it is noted that a phrase (usually a maximum XP) occupies the specifier of the head of X.

• Syntax