This book provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the major issues in syntactic theory, including phrase structure, the lexicon, case theory, movement, and locality conditions. Written primarily in the Principles and Parameters framework, the text also includes an introduction to Minimalism and gives a brief survey of both Lexical-Functional Grammar and Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar. It contains numerous exercises, including foreign language problem sets, designed both to cement foundational knowledge and to take the student to the next level. The balanced presentation guides the student through complicated analyses, pointing out common mistakes and how to avoid them. Syntax provides a thorough grounding in all areas of generative syntax and prepares the reader for more advanced study. It is supported by an instructor's manual and online resources for students and instructors: http: //www .blackwellpublishing.com/carnie.

From first-hand experience, Carnie's book provides a highly readable and engaging initiation into the mindset and preoccupations of current syntactic theory. It is useful in tying the cognitive implications and background of current Chomskyan work together with the increasing cross-linguistic emphasis in syntax. The problem sets alone were extremely appreciated by my undergraduates. Mark Baltin, New York University This book is a perfect example of how sophisticated syntactic concepts can be presented in a genuinely reader-friendly way. The syntax student is led carefully through argumentation to current syntactic theory and at the end has a clear understanding not only of the whats of syntax but also the whys. Lisa deMena Travis, McGill University The book is written in a reader-friendly way, and guides students to grasp complicated syntactic concepts and analyses. The Linguist List

Andrew Carnie is Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of Arizona. He is co-moderator (with Helen Dry and Anthony Aristar) of the Linguist List, and is co-editor (with Eithne Guilfoyle) of The Syntax of Verb Initial Languages (2000).