This chapter argues that subjects originate internally within VP, and from there raise to spec-TP via an operation known as A Movement. The chapter begins (Module 2.1) by outlining the VP Internal Subject Hypothesis, and discussing evidence for it. Module 2.2 considers predicates, arguments, theta roles and theta marking. Module 2.3 turns to explore the syntax of unaccusative subjects, and compares unaccusatives with other type of predicate. Module 2.4 goes on to look at Passivisation, contrasting short/clause-internal and long/cross-clausal passives, and discussing constraints on Passivisation. Module 2.5 looks at the syntax of Raising structures, and compares them with Control structures, establishing criteria for determining whether a given item is a Raising or Control predicate. Module 2.6 notes that many sentences are mixed structures, containing more than one type of predicate (e.g. a passive and an unaccusative predicate). The chapter concludes with a Summary (Module 2.7), Bibliography (Module 2.8), and Workbook (Module 2.9), with some Workbook exercise examples designed for self-study, and others for assignments/seminar discussion.

This chapter reviews the basic control structures of the Python language. These are used to lay out the logic of a program so as to allow it to do an infinite amount of stuff with finite means. These structures include if, for, while, etc.