Empty Categories

Empty subjects
Subjects elided under conjunction (NP-SBJ *con*)
Empty expletive subjects (NP-SBJ *exp*)
Presentational clauses
Extraposed subject clauses
Impersonal constructions
Arbitrary PRO in ECM infinitive (NP-SBJ *arb*)
Other empty subjects (NP-SBJ *pro*)
Traces
Wh-traces
Movement of nonphrasal categories
The BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE I NONE construction
Stylistic fronting of quantifiers
Traces of A'-movement
Traces of A-movement
Other empty categories
Empty wh-phrases and complementizers
A generic empty category (X *)
Verbs elided after modals
Elided FOR and TO in conjoined infinitives
Unexpressed verbs of motion
Missing copula
Probable errors
Deletion of stranded prepositions
The Position of Empty Categories
Empty elements of the verbal complex
Position of empty subjects
The position of traces
Traces in IP and ADJP
Traces in NP, PP and ADVP
Resumptive elements
Resumptive pronouns
Resumptive prepositions
Empty objects
Table of Contents

Empty categories are treated the same way as overt ones except that they do not contain lexical material. In addition, missing material is sometimes added in braces and labelled CODE to make the structure more transparent. This is most often done in comparative clauses; see Section ELISION IN COMPARATIVE CLAUSES.

Empty subjects

There are four types of empty subjects.

Subjects elided under conjunction (NP-SBJ *con*)

Subjects elided under conjunction contain *con*. Elided subjects are indicated in both conjoined subordinate clauses and in main clause tokens since subjects are obligatory in most types of clauses in our system. The empty subject in a matrix clause is coreferential with the subject of the previous token. Elided objects could be treated in the same way, but haven't been indicated in the corpus, since many cases are unclear.
(NODE (CP-ADV (C that)
              (IP-SUB (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                              (VBD came)
                              (PP (P to)
                                  (NP (NPR kynge) (NPR Uther) (NPR Pendragon))))
                      (CONJP (CONJ and)
                             (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *con*)   <--- subject elided in conjoined
                                     (VBD told)            clauses
                                     (NP-OB2 (PRO hym))
                                     (CP-THT (C 0)
                                             (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                                                     (HVD had)
                                                     (VBN met)
                                                     (PP (P with)
                                                         (NP (NPR Merlyn)))))))))
      (ID CMMALORY,3.64)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))    <--- first token with overt subject
          (VBD made)
          (NP-OB2 (PRO them))
          (NP-OB1 (ADJ grete) (N chere))
          (ADVP (ADV out)
                (PP (P of)
                    (NP (N mesure)))))(ID CMMALORY,2.13)) 
( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)       <--- following token with subject
          (VBD desyred)             elided
          (IP-INF (TO to)
                  (HV have)
                  (VBN lyen)
                  (PP (P by)
                      (NP (PRO her))))
          (E_S ,))(ID CMMALORY,2.14)) 

Empty expletive subjects (NP-SBJ *exp*)

Empty expletives contain *exp*. These are always subjects and occur in three constructions:

Presentational clauses

In the equivalent of Modern English presentational clauses with THERE, the expletive is labeled as the subject and co-indexed to the logical subject which is labeled NP. See section PRESENTATIONAL THERE for details on the environments in which an expletive subject has been added.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
          (PP (P overthwarte)
              (NP (D the) (N horse)))
          (VBD lay)
          (NP-1 (D an) (VAN armed) (N knyght)
                (RRC (VAN bounden)))
          (E_S .))(ID CMMALORY,190.2777)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ And)
          (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
          (PP (P at)
              (NP (D the) (N ende)
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (D the) (N brydge)))))
          (BED was)
          (NP-1 (D a) (ADJ fayre) (N vyllage))
          (E_S ,))(ID CMMALORY,195.2946)) 

Extraposed subject clauses

With extraposed subject clauses the expletive is co-indexed to the clause.
( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
          (PP (P Of)
              (NP (NPR eve)
                  (NP-PRN (PRO$ ouwer) (ADJ+N aldemoder))))
          (BEP is)
          (VAN iwriten)
          (CP-THT-1 (C 0)
                    (IP-SUB (ADVP (NP (Q$ alre))
                                  (ADV earest))
                            (PP (P in)
                                (NP (PRO hire)))
                            (NP-SBJ (N sunne))
                            (VBD in+geong)
                            (PP (P of)
                                (NP (N+N hechsich+de)))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMANCRIW,II.43.387)) 

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
          (ADVP-TMP (ADV Euer))
          (MD sal)
          (BE be)
          (PP (P in)
              (NP (PRO$ his) (N +toht)))
          (CP-THT-1 (C +tat)
                    (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO$ his) (NS munkis))
                            (BEP be)
                            (ADVP (ADV wel))
                            (VAN lered)
                            (, ,)
                            (CP-ADV (C +tat)
                                    (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO +tai))
                                            (VBP dute)
                                            (NP-OB1 (NPR god))))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMBENRUL,5.133)) 

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
          (PP (P for)
              (NP (D +ti)))
          (BEP es)
          (ADJP (ADJ gude))
          (CP-THT-1 (C +tat)
                    (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO ye))
                            (DOP doe)
                            (ADVP-DIR (ADV o-way))
                            (NP-OB1 (PRO$ yure) (ADJ wicke) (NS dedis)
                                    (CONJP (CONJ &)
                                           (NX (NS +tohtes))))))
          (E_S ;))
  (ID CMBENRUL,12.416)) 

Impersonal constructions

In impersonal constructions, complement clauses, if present, are co-indexed to the expletive subject, as in Section EXTRAPOSED SUBJECT CLAUSES.
(NODE (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *exp*)
              (NP-OB2 (D +te) (N heorte))
              (VBP like+d))
      (ID CMANCRIW,II.211.3033)) 

(NODE (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *exp*)
              (NP-OB2 (PRO +te))
              (VBP wonte+d)
              (PP (PP (P of)
                      (NP (N halinesse)))
                  (CONJP (CONJ &)
                         (PP (P of)
                             (NP (ADJ gastliche) (NS +teawes))))))
      (ID CMANCRIW,II.202.2894)) 

(NODE (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ-5 *exp*)
              (NP-OB2 (PRO me))
              (BEP is)
              (ADJP (ADJ la+d))
              (IP-INF-5 (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
                        (TO to)
                        (VB gremien)))
      (ID CMJULIA,98.44)) 

(NODE (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
              (NP-OB2 (PRO hem))
              (VBD thought)
              (CP-THT-1 (C 0)
                        (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (D the) (N palyse))
                                (MD sholde)
                                (ADVP (Q all))
                                (VB to-dryve))))
      (ID CMMALORY,634.3765)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
          (NP-OB2 (PRO hym))
          (VBD semed)
          (IP-INF-1 (TO to)
                    (BE be)
                    (PP (P of)
                        (NP (D the) (N ayge)
                            (PP (P of)
                                (NP (NUMP (NUM three) (NUM hondred))
                                    (NS wynter))))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,660.4629)) 

(NODE (IP-MAT-SPE (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
                  (NP-OB2 (PRO Me))
                  (VBP merueylyth)
                  (NP-MSR (Q mech))
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (D +tis) (N woman)))
                  (CP-QUE-SPE-1 (WADVP-2 (WADV why))
				(C 0)
				(IP-SUB-SPE (ADVP *T*-2)
					    (NP-SBJ (PRO sche))
					    (VBP (VBP wepith) (CONJ &) (VBP cryith))
					    (ADVP (ADV so)))))
      (ID CMKEMPE,143.3317)) 

Arbitrary PRO in ECM infinitive (NP-SBJ *arb*)

The arbitrary PRO subject of an infinitive under a verb which otherwise exceptionally case-marks the complement subject is labelled *arb*. See Section INFINITIVES WITH ECM VERBS.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ And)
          (ADVP (ADV soo))
          (PP (P by)
              (NP (D the) (N counceil)
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (NPR Merlyn)))))
          (NP-SBJ (D the) (N kyng))
          (VBD lete)
          (IP-INF (NP-SBJ *arb*)
                  (VB calle)
                  (NP-OB1 (PRO$ his) (NS barons))
                  (PP (P to)
                      (NP (N counceil))))
          (E_S ,))(ID CMMALORY,14.419)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ &)
          (NP-SBJ (PRO +tei))
          (DOP do)
          (IP-INF (NP-SBJ *arb*)
                  (VB paue)
                  (NP-OB1 (PRO hem))))(ID CMMANDEV,17.408)) 

Other empty subjects (NP-SBJ *pro*)

When the empty subject of a clause is not the same as that of the previous (conjoined) clause, it contains *pro*. In some cases this may represent ``small pro'' i.e., true pro-drop, which although not common in English, does perhaps occur in some of the early texts. However, the use of *pro* is not meant to indicate a syntactic analysis, but simply that for whatever reason (including in some cases such things as scribal error), the empty subject of a clause is not coreferential with that of the previous main clause.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (PP (P for)
              (NP (D +dare)
                  (ADJ euele)
                  (N +gewune)))
          (NEG ne)
          (VBP +dinc+d)
          (NP-SBJ (PRO hit))
          (NP-OB2 (PRO hem))
          (NP-OB1 (Q no)
                  (N misdade))
          (E_S ,))(ID CMVICES1,79.910)) 
( (IP-MAT (CONJ ac)
          (NP-SBJ *pro*)            <--- subject = THEY coreferential to 
          (BEP bie+d)                    NP-OB2 in previous clause
          (VAN ihealden)
          (PP 
              (PP (P for)
                  (NP (ADJ wise)
                      (NS menn)))
              (CONJP (CONJ and)
                     (PP (P for)
                         (NP (ADJ +geape)))))
          (E_S .))(ID CMVICES1,79.911)) 

( (IP-MAT (PP (P A)
              (NP (NPR$ domes) (NPR dai)))
          (MD sulle)
          (NP-SBJ (NP (NS buckes))
                  (, .)
                  (CONJP (CONJ and)
                         (NP (D +te) (NS get)))
                  (, .)
                  (IP-MAT-PRN (NP-SBJ (D +to))
                              (BEP ben)
                              (NP-OB1 (NP (D +te) (N+NS wapmen))
                                      (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                             (NP (D +te) (NS wimmen)))
                                      (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                                              (C +te)
                                              (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                                      (NP-OB1 (N hordom))
                                                      (VBP drien))))))
          (, .)
          (VB stonden)
          (PP (P an)
              (NP (NP-POS (PRO$ ure) (NPR louerd)
                          (NP-PRN (NPR ihesu) (NPR$ cristes)))
                  (ADJ lift) (N hond)))
          (E_S .))(ID CMTRINIT,37.508)) 
( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *pro*)        <--- subject = HE coreferential with
          (NP-OB1 (PRO hem))         URE LOUERD IHESU CRIST in previous
          (MD sal)                   clause
          (VB senden)
          (PP (P into)
              (NP (D +tat) (ADJ eche) (N fur)
                  (PP (P on)
                      (NP (NPR helle)))))
          (PP (P mid)
              (NP (Q alle) (NS deflen)))
          (E_S .))(ID CMTRINIT,37.509)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ (D the) (N chelde))
          (VBD sayde)
          (, :)
          (' ')
          (CP-QUE-SPE (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-VOC (NPR Edmond))
				  (, ,)
				  (VBP knowyst)
				  (NP-SBJ *pro*) <--- subject = YOU
				  (NEG not)
				  (NP-OB1 (PRO me))))
          (E_S ?)
          (' '))
  (ID CMEDMUND,165.46)) 

It is also used in non-conjoined subordinate clauses, where the subject is usually coreferential with the subject of the matrix clause
(NODE (CP-QUE-SPE (WADVP-1 (WADV wi))
                  (IP-SUB-SPE (ADVP *T*-1)
			      (MD sholdest)
			      (NP-SBJ (PRO +tu))
			      (NP-OB1 (D +tis)
				      (CP-REL-SPE *ICH*-2))
			      (VB finden)
			      (CP-REL-SPE-2 (WNP-3 0)
					    (C +te)
					    (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ *pro*)  <--- subject = +TU
							(NP-OB1 (Q noht))
							(NEG ne)
							(VBP fost)
							(PP-RSP-3 (ADV+P +terof))))))
      (ID CMTRINIT,215.3005))

( (IP-MAT (CONJ &)
          (NP-SBJ (Q euch) (N her))
          (VBP +tunche+d)
          (CP-THT (C +tt)
                  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *pro*)        <--- subject = EUCH HER
                          (VBP stont)
                          (PP (P in)
                              (NP (PRO$ his) (N heaued)))
                          (RP up)))
          (E_S ;))
(ID CMSAWLES,169.47)) 

Traces

A number of kinds of traces are indicated in our system, including traces of wh-movement, A'-movement leftward and rightward, and A-movement.

Wh-traces

Wh-traces contain *T* with an index matching that on the wh-phrase; the label on the trace indicates the category of the gap. See section TYPES OF SUBORDINATE CLAUSES for clause types in which traces are indicated.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)
          (VBD asked)
          (NP-OB2 (D the) (N kynge))
          (CP-QUE (WADVP-1 (WADV why))  <--- wh-trace coindexed to wh-phrase
                  (C 0)
                  (IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-1)
                          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                          (BED was)
                          (ADJP (ADJ seke))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,3.43)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (ADVP-LOC (ADV ther))
          (NP-SBJ (NPR Merlyn))
          (VBD asked)
          (NP-OB2 (NPR Ulfius))
          (CP-QUE (WNP-1 (WPRO whome))
                  (C 0)
                  (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
                          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                          (VBD soughte)))
          (E_S ,))
  (ID CMMALORY,3.50)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (ADVP (ADV Well))
              (, ,)
              (' ')
              (IP-MAT-PRN (VBD saide)
                          (NP-SBJ (NPR Merlyn)))
              (, ,)
              (' ')
              (NP-SBJ (PRO I))
              (VBP knowe)
              (CP-QUE-SPE (WNP-1 (WPRO whome))
			  (C 0)
			  (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
				      (NP-SBJ (PRO thou))
				      (VBP sekest)))
              (E_S ,))
  (ID CMMALORY,3.52)) 

Traces of A'-movement

Traces of A'-movement leftward and rightward contain *ICH* and are coindexed to the moved element. A'-movement is only indicated when a constituent has been extracted from within another constituent, making the extraction site clear.
( (IP-MAT-SPE (' ')
              (NP-SBJ (PRO He)
                      (CP-REL-SPE *ICH*-1)) <--- trace of extraposed CP-REL-SPE
              (BEP is)
              (NEG not)
              (ADVP-LOC (ADV here))
              (, ,)
              (' ')
              (IP-MAT-PRN (VBD said)
                          (NP-SBJ (D the) (N Archebisshop)))
              (, ,)
              (' ')
              (CP-REL-SPE-1 (WNP-2 0)        <--- extraposed CP-REL-SPE
			    (C that)
			    (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ *T*-2)
					(MD shall)
					(VB encheve)
					(NP-OB1 (D the) (N swerd))))
              (E_S ,))
  (ID CMMALORY,8.201)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ but)
          (NP-SBJ (PRO it))
          (BED was)
          (ADJP (ADVR so) (ADJ bryght)
                (CP-DEG *ICH*-1))       <--- trace of extraposed CP-DEG
          (PP (P in)
              (NP (NP-POS (PRO$ his) (NS$ enemyes))
                  (NS eyen)))
          (CP-DEG-1 (C that)            <--- extraposed CP-REL
                    (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO it))
                            (VBD gaf)
                            (NP-OB1 (N light)
                                    (ADJP (ADJ lyke)
                                          (NP (NUM thirty) (NS torchys))))))
          (E_S ,))
  (ID CMMALORY,14.409)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (' ')
              (NP-SBJ (PRO$ our) (N kyng))
              (BEP is)
              (NP-OB1 (D a)
                      (ADJP (ADJ lusty)
                            (CONJP *ICH*-1))    <--- trace of extraposed CONJP
                      (N knyghte)
                      (CONJP-1 (CONJ and)       <--- extraposed CONJP
                               (ADJP (ADJ wyveles))))
              (E_S ,))
  (ID CMMALORY,4.106)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (' ')
              (NP-SBJ-1 (EX There))
              (NEG+VBP nys)
              (NP-1 (Q none) (OTHER other) (N remedye)
                    (PP *ICH*-2))               <--- trace of extraposed PP
              (, ,)
              (' ')
              (IP-MAT-PRN (VBD said)
                          (NP-SBJ (NPR Merlyn)))
              (, ,)
              (' ')
              (PP-2 (P but)                     <--- extraposed PP
                    (CP-ADV-SPE (C 0)
                                (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (NPR God))
                                            (MD wil)
                                            (HV have)
                                            (NP-OB1 (PRO$ his) (N wille)))))
              (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,6.173)) 

Movement of nonphrasal categories

In general only phrases undergo movement. Any potential cases of head movement (e.g. stylistic fronting of quantifiers) are treated as phrasal by adding a phrasal level which wouldn't otherwise be indicated and coindexing this phrase to a trace in the NP of origin. There are a small number of exceptions to this rule including floated conjunctions (see Section FLOATED CONJUNCTIONS), floated quantifiers (see Section FLOATED QUANTIFIERS), and verbs which have been fronted out of a clause (see Section VERB FRONTING IN FREE RELATIVES).

The BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE I NONE construction

In the BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE I NONE construction, a quantifier is left in situ while the rest of the object NP is fronted. The fronted element is labelled as an NP and coindexed to a trace in the object NP.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ but)
          (NP-1 (N shylde))
          (MD wolde)
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (VB take)
          (NP-OB1 (Q none)
                  (NP *ICH*-1))
          (PP (P for)
              (NP (Q no) (N prayer)
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (D the) (N kynge)))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,633.3743)) 

( (IP-MAT (NP-1 (NS Knyvys)
                (ADJP *ICH*-2))
          (MD sal)
          (NP-SBJ (PRO ye))
          (HV haue)
          (NP-OB1 (Q nane)
                  (NP *ICH*-1))
          (PP (P by)
              (NP (PRO$ yure) (N bed)))
          (, ,)
          (ADJP-2 (CONJ nou+tir) (ADJ gret) (CONJ ne) (ADJ smal))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMBENRUL,20.698)) 

Stylistic fronting of quantifiers

In this case a quantifier is fronted out of the object NP while the rest of the object remains in situ. The fronted quantifier is labelled QP and coindexed with a trace in the object NP.
( (IP-MAT (QP-1 (Q Micel))
          (HVD hadde)
          (NP-SBJ (NPR Henri)
                  (NP-PRN (N king)))
          (VBD gadered)
          (NP-OB1 (QP *ICH*-1)
                  (N gold) (CONJ &) (N syluer))
          (E_S ,))
  (ID CMPETERB,55.416)) 

( (IP-MAT (QP-3 (QP (Q Vele))
                (CONJP *ICH*-2))
          (NP-SBJ-1 (EX +ter))
          (BEP bye+t)
          (NP-1 (QP *ICH*-3)
                (OTHER o+tre) (NS zennes))
          (, /)
          (CONJP-2 (CONJ and)
                   (PP (P of)
                       (NP (ADJ diuers) (N cas))))
          (, /)
          (PP (P ine)
              (NP (N symonye)))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMAYENBI,42.710)) 

Traces of A-movement

A-movement is indicated in a limited number of cases, namely when the moved element is extracted from within another phrase (usually IP or PP). Thus passives in which the passivized NP is extracted from a PP or lower clause (small clause or infinitive) are indicated, but the passivization of an object within the same clause, for example, is not. Traces of A-movement contain * and are coindexed to the moved element. Note that * is also used as a generic empty category, but in this case is never indexed. See Section A GENERIC EMPTY CATEGORY.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ And)
          (NP-SBJ-1 (D the) (N name)
                    (PP (P of)
                        (NP (D thys) (N knyght))))
          (BED was)
          (VAN called)
          (IP-SMC (NP-SBJ *-1)
                  (NP-OB1 (NPR Balyne)))
          (E_S ,))
  (ID CMMALORY,46.1525)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ and)
              (NP-SBJ-1 (PRO I))
              (BED was)
              (VAN called)
              (IP-SMC-SPE (NP-SBJ *-1)
			  (NP-OB1 (D the) (N quene)
				  (PP (P of)
				      (NP (QS moste) (N rychesse)
					  (PP (P in)
					      (NP (D the) (N worlde)))))))
              (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,658.4558)) 

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ-1 (N Pine))
          (BEP is)
          (ADVP-LOC (Q+WADV ihwer))
          (DAN idon)
          (IP-INF (NP-OB1 *-1)
                  (NP-SBJ *arb*)
                  (TO to)
                  (VB (VB21 vnder) (VB22 stonden))
                  (PP (P +turch)
                      (NP (N cros))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMANCRIW,II.41.361)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ for)
              (PP (P $i)
                  (NP (Q $feole) (CODE {TEXT:ifeole}) (OTHER o+der) (NS +ting)))
              (NP-SBJ-1 (PRO he) (CONJ o+der) (PRO heo))
              (BEP is)
              (IP-INF-SPE (NP-OB1 *-1)
			  (NP-MSR (Q muche))
			  (TO to)
			  (VB heri+gen))
              (E_S .))
  (ID CMANCRIW,II.70.802)) 

(NODE (IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-2)
              (NP-SBJ-1 (D +te) (ADJ Gay) (N world))
              (BEP is)
              (IP-INF (NP-OB1 *-1)
                      (TO to)
                      (VB fleon)))
      (ID CMANCRIW,II.127.1649)) 

(NODE (IP-MAT-2 (ADVP (ADV Soo))
                (NP-SBJ-1 (NPR Merlyn))
                (BED was)
                (VAN sente)
                (PP (P for)
                    (NP *-1)))
      (ID CMMALORY,14.430)) 

Other empty categories

Empty wh-phrases and complementizers

Empty wh-phrases and complementizers contain 0 (i.e., ZERO)
( (IP-MAT (CONJ for)
          (PP (P within)
              (NP (ADJ forty) (NS dayes)))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (MD wold)
          (VB fetche)
          (NP-OB1 (PRO hym))
          (PP (RP oute)
              (P of)
              (NP (D the) (ADJS byggest) (N castell)
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)   <--- empty wh-operator
                          (C that)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
                                  (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                                  (HVP hath)))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,2.32)) 

( (IP-MAT (PP (P Whanne)
              (CP-ADV (C 0)           <--- empty complementizer position
                      (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (D the) (N duke))
                              (HVD hadde)
                              (NP-OB1 (D thys) (N warnynge)))))
          (ADVP-TMP (ADV anone))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (VBD wente))
  (ID CMMALORY,2.33)) 

A generic empty category (X *)

When not accompanied by an index (X *) is a generic empty category. It is used in at least the following subcases (for cases with an index, which indicate A-movement, see section TRACES OF A MOVEMENT).

Verbs elided after modals

Often this indicates VP-deletion in a subordinate clause, but it can also operate across tokens.
( (IP-MAT-SPE (' ')
              (CONJ for)
              (NP-SBJ (PRO we))
              (VBP woll)
              (NP-OB1 (Q all)
                      (CP-REL-SPE (WNP-1 0)
				  (C that)
				  (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-OB1 *T*-1)
					      (NP-SBJ (PRO we))
					      (MD may)
					      (VB *))))
              (E_S .)
              (' '))
  (ID CMMALORY,25.768)) 

( (IP-MAT (ADVP-TMP (ADV Than))
          (NP-SBJ (Q eythir))
          (VBD lette)
          (IP-INF (NP-SBJ (PRO$ theire) (NS horsys))
                  (VB renne)
                  (ADVP (ADVR as) (ADV faste)
                        (PP (P as)
                            (CP-CMP (WADVP-1 0)
                                    (C 0)
                                    (IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-1)
                                            (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
                                            (MD myght)
                                            (VB *))))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,25.770)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)
          (HVP habbe+d)
          (VBN seid)
          (PP (ADV+P +tarof))
          (NP-OB1 (NUM tweien) (NS uers))
          (E_S .))(ID CMTRINIT,21.252)) 
( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)
          (MD wile)
          (VB *)        <--- say
          (ADVP-TMP (ADV nu))
          (NP-OB1 (D +te) (ADJ +tridde))
          (E_S .))(ID CMTRINIT,21.253)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *exp*)
          (ADVP-TMP (ADV ofte))
          (DOP do+d)
          (IP-INF (NP-SBJ *pro*)
                  (VB of+tenchen)
                  (CP-THT (C +tat)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                                  (ADVP-TMP (ADV +aure))
                                  (ADVP (ADV swo))
                                  (HVP haue+d)
                                  (DON idon))))
          (E_S .))(ID CMVICES1,3.15)) 
( (IP-MAT (ADVP (Q Al) (ADV swo))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (DOP de+d)
          (IP-INF (NP-SBJ (D +to) (NS men)
                          (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                                  (C +de)
                                  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                          (NP-2 (NS sennen))
                                          (HVP habbe+d)
                                          (VBN forhaten)
                                          (IP-INF (NP-OB1 *ICH*-2)
                                                  (TO te)
                                                  (VB laten)))))
                  (VB *))   <--- verb = of+tenchen from previous IP-INF
          (E_S ,))(ID CMVICES1,3.16)) 

Elided FOR and TO in conjoined infinitives

When FOR and/or TO is elided in conjunct clauses, an empty category is inserted in order to distinguish these cases from bare infinitives.
(NODE (CP-QUE-ADV (WQ whethir)
                  (C 0)
                  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ=1 *exp*) 
                          (NP-OB2 (PRO me))
                          (VBP lyste)
                          (IP-INF-1 (IP-INF (TO to)
                                            (VB save)
                                            (NP-OB1 (PRO the)))
                                    (CONJP (CONJ or)
                                           (IP-INF (TO *) 
                                                   (VB sle)
                                                   (NP-OB1 (PRO the)))))))

      (ID CMMALORY,40.1309))

( (IP-IMP-SPE (CONJ And)
              (NP-LFD (D this) (N lord) 
                      (, ,) 
                      (NP-PRN (NPR sir) (CODE ) (NPR Ector)))
              (, ,)
              (VBI lete)
              (IP-INF-SPE (NP-SBJ-RSP-1 (PRO hym))
			  (BE be)
			  (VAN sent)
			  (PP (P for)
			      (NP *-1))
			  (IP-INF-PRP-SPE (IP-INF-PRP-SPE (FOR for) (TO to)
							  (VB come))
					  (CONJP (CONJ and)
						 (IP-INF-PRP-SPE (FOR *) (TO *)
								 (VB speke)
								 (PP (P with)
								     (NP (PRO you)))))))
              (E_S ,)) 
  (ID CMMALORY,6.143))

Unexpressed verbs of motion

( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ for)
              (NP-SBJ (PRO ye))
              (MD must)
              (VB *)
              (PP (P to)
                  (NP (D the) (N feld)))
              (, ,)
              (PP (P though)
                  (CP-ADV-SPE (C 0)
			      (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO ye))
					  (VBP ryde)
					  (PP (P on)
					      (NP (D an) (N+N hors-lyttar))))))
              (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,6.160)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ but)
          (NP-SBJ (D the) (N swerde))
          (MD wolde)
          (NEG nat)
          (VB *)         <--- verb = come 
          (RP oute)
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,46.1510)) 

( (IP-MAT (' ')
          (ADVP-TMP (ADV +Danne))
          (MD sculen)
          (VB *)            <--- verb = go
          (NP-SBJ (PRO hi) (Q alle)
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                          (C +de)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                  (NP-OB1 (N god))
                                  (HVP habbe+d)
                                  (DON idon))))
          (PP (P to)
              (NP (D +dan) (ADJ eche) (N liue)))
          (E_S ,))(ID CMVICES1,25.289)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-LFD (D +to)
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                          (C +de)
                          (IP-SUB (IP-SUB-2 (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                            (NP-OB1 (N euele))
                                            (HVP habbe+d)
                                            (DON idon))
                                  (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                         (IP-SUB=2 (NEG naht)
                                                   (VBN ibett))))))
          (, ,)
          (NP-SBJ-RSP (PRO he))
          (MD sculen)
          (VB *)           <--- verb = go
          (PP (P into)
              (NP (D +dan) (ADJ eche) (N fiere)))
          (E_S .)
          (' '))(ID CMVICES1,25.290)) 

Missing copula

(NODE (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ (PRO$ hire) (N leor))
              (BEP *)
              (ADJP (ADJ lufsum)
                    (PP (P to)
                        (NP (NP-POS (PRO$ ure) (NPR$ lauerdes))
                            (NS echnen)))))
      (ID CMANCRIW,II.104.1290)) 

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ (D +Tis))
          (BEP *)
          (NP-OB1 (D +te) (N ancre)
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                          (C +te)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                  (NEG naut)
                                  (NEG+VBP nat)
                                  (CP-QUE (WNP-2 (WPRO hwat))
                                          (C 0)
                                          (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-2)
                                                  (BEP is)
                                                  (NP-SBJ (N fondinge)))))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMANCRIW,II.136.1813)) 

Probable errors

(NODE (IP-MAT-SPE-1 (PP (P +gef)
                        (CP-ADV-SPE (C 0)
				    (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
						(MD wule)
						(VB (VB luuien) (, .) (CONJ &) (VB leuen))
						(NP-OB1 (NPR godd)
							(, .)
							(ADJP (ADJ al-mihti))))))
                    (, ;)
                    (ADVP-TMP (ADV +tenne))
                    (MD mei)
                    (VB *)        <--- editor suggests supplying `speoken' from
                    (NP-SBJ (PRO he))  another ms.
                    (PP (ADV+P +trof)))
      (ID CMJULIA,99.55)) 

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ (NPR Eleusius))
          (VBD *)           <--- editor suggests supplying `war+d' from
          (ADJP (ADJ wod))       another ms.
          (ADVP-TMP (ADV +ta)))
  (ID CMJULIA,105.159)) 

Deletion of stranded prepositions

Stranded prepositions which have been deleted following wh-exraction of their complement are indicated in the same way.
( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ for)
              (PP (P and)
                  (CP-ADV-SPE (C 0)
			      (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO thou))
					  (VBP sle)
					  (NP-OB1 (D that) (N knyght)))))
              (NP-SBJ (PRO thou))
              (VBP puttyst)
              (NP-OB1 (D thys) (N realme))
              (PP (P in)
                  (NP (D the) (ADJS gretteste) (N damage)
                      (CP-REL-SPE (WNP-1 0)
				  (C that)
				  (IP-SUB-SPE (PP (P (CODE {in}))
						  (NP *T*-1))
					      (ADVP-TMP (ADV evir))
					      (BED was)
					      (NP-SBJ (N realme))))))
              (E_S :))
  (ID CMMALORY,40.1324)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ for)
              (NP-SBJ-1 (EX there))
              (VBP lyvith)
              (NEG nat)
              (NP-1 (D a) (N knyght)
                    (PP (P of)
                        (NP (QR more) (CODE ) (N prouesse)
                            (PP (P than)
                                (CP-CMP-SPE (WNP-2 0)
					    (C 0)
					    (IP-SUB-SPE (PP (P (CODE {of}))
							    (NP *T*-2))
							(NP-SBJ (PRO he))
							(BEP ys)))))))
              (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,51.1678)) 

The Position of Empty Categories

Since empty categories are not visible, their position in the string is often not determinable, given the extensive word order variation in Middle English. The following rules govern the position of empty categories.

Empty elements of the verbal complex

Empty elements of the verbal complex are added assuming the order modal>verb>participle, even in early texts which sometimes have verb>modal order (see Section VERBS for a description of how verbs and modals are labeled). In the PPCME2 (unlike PPCME1), clauses missing more than just the subject are for the most part not reconstructed (see Section CONJUNCTION OF EMBEDDED IPs, and empty categories are not added. Exceptions, i.e., cases in which elided/missing verbs are added, are discussed in Section A GENERIC EMPTY CATEGORY.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ bote)
          (ADVP (ADV certayn))
          (, ,)
          (NP-VOC (N suster))
          (, ,)
          (ADVP (ADV +gith))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO +tu))
          (MD most)
          (VB *)
          (NP-MSR (ADJR for+tere))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMAELR3,46.608)) 

( (IP-MAT (ADVP-TMP (ADV Nu))
          (BEP is)
          (VBN *)
          (NP-SBJ (D +tes) (N prest))
          (ADVP-DIR (ADV uor+te))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMLAMB1,81.148)) 

Position of empty subjects

Empty subjects are put first in the clause after conjunctions, traces and left-dislocations. In addition, expletive presentational subjects follow the initial locative phrase.
(NODE (IP-MAT-1 (PP (P on)
                    (NP (N+N horscbacke)))
                (NP-SBJ-2 *exp*)
                (BED was)
                (NP-2 (NUMP (ADV fully) (NUM fyffty) (NUM thousand))))
      (ID CMMALORY,20.599)) 

(NODE (IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-1)
              (NP-SBJ *exp*)
              (VBD longed)
              (PP (P to)
                  (NP (D a) (N kyng))))
      (ID CMMALORY,7.182)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ and)
              (NP-SBJ *exp*)
              (NP-OB2 (PRO me))
              (VBP repentys)
              (ADVP (ADV sore))
              (PP (P of)
                  (NP (PRO$ youre) (ADJ grete) (N damage)))
              (E_S .)
              (' '))
  (ID CMMALORY,26.826)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)
          (MD wold)
          (NEG not)
          (VB assente)
          (PP (P unto)
              (NP (D the) (N kynge)))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,2.16)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)
          (ADVP (ADV lightly) (CONJ and) (ADV fiersly))
          (VBD pulled)
          (NP-OB1 (PRO it))
          (PP (RP out) (P of)
              (NP (D the) (N stone)))
          (E_S ,))
  (ID CMMALORY,8.229)) 

( (IP-MAT (NP-LFD (CP-FRL (WNP-1 (WPRO+ADV hwase))
                          (C 0)
                          (IP-SUB (IP-SUB-2 (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                            (MD wule)
                                            (VB (VB21 bi) (VB22 winnen))
                                            (NP-OB1 (PRO hire)))
                                  (CONJP (CONJ &)
                                         (IP-SUB=2 (VB areache)
                                                   (PP (ADVP (ADV +ter))
                                                       (P to)))))))
          (, .)
          (NP-SBJ-3 *exp*)
          (NP-OB2 (PRO hir))
          (BEP is)
          (ADJP (Q lutel)
                (ADJR inoch))
          (IP-INF-3 (FOR+TO forto)
                    (VB warpen)
                    (NP-OB1 (Q al) (D +te) (N world))
                    (PP (P under)
                        (NP (PRO$ hire) (NS fotes))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMANCRIW,II.129.1686)) 

The position of traces

The position of traces is governed by the following rules:

Traces in IP and ADJP

In IP and ADJP, traces (both wh and non-wh) always appear first.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ for)
          (PP (P within)
              (NP (ADJ forty) (NS dayes)))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (MD wold)
          (VB fetche)
          (NP-OB1 (PRO hym))
          (PP (RP oute)
              (P of)
              (NP (D the) (ADJS byggest) (N castell)
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                          (C that)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-OB1 *T*-1)  <--- wh-trace first in IP
                                  (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                                  (HVP hath)))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,2.32)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-OB1 (PRO+N hymself))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (VBD putte)
          (PP (P in)
              (NP (D the) (N castel)
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (NPR Terrabyl)))
                  (, ,)
                  (CP-REL (WNP-1 (D the) (WPRO whiche))
                          (C 0)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)  <--- wh-trace first in IP
                                  (HVD had)
                                  (NP-OB1 (Q many) (NS yssues)
                                          (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                                 (NX (NS posternes))))
                                  (RP oute)))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,3.36)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (NP-SBJ *con*)
          (VBD asked)
          (NP-OB2 (D the) (N kynge))
          (CP-QUE 
           (WADVP-1 (WADV why))
           (C 0)
           (IP-SUB (ADVP *T*-1)  <--- wh-trace first in IP
                   (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                   (BED was)
                   (ADJP (ADJ seke))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,3.43)) 

(NODE (IP-SUB (NP-3 (Q eny) (N partye)
                    (PP (P of)
                        (NP (N wurschipe)))
                    (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                            (C +tat)
                            (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                    (BEP is)
                                    (ADVP (ADV alto-gydere))
                                    (NP-OB1 (PRO$ his)))))
              (, ,)
              (NP-SBJ-2 (PRO I))
              (BED were)
              (VAN yseye)
              (IP-INF (NP-OB1 *ICH*-3)        <--- non-wh trace first in IP
                      (NP-SBJ *-2)
                      (VB take)
                      (PP (P to)
                          (NP (PRO+WARD me-ward)))))
      (ID CMAELR3,53.871)) 

( (IP-MAT (CONJ And)
          (NP-1 (Q all) (D thys))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
          (VBD lette)
          (IP-INF (NP-OB1 *ICH*-1)        <--- non-wh trace first in IP
                  (NP-SBJ *arb*)
                  (VB wryte)
                  (PP (P in)
                      (NP (D the) (N pomell)
                          (PP (P of)
                              (NP (D the) (N swerde))))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,70.2380)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ And)
              (NP-SBJ-2 *exp*)
              (NP-1 (D that))
              (BED were)
              (NP-OB2 (PRO me))
              (ADJP (ADJ lothe))
              (IP-INF-SPE-2 (NP-OB1 *ICH*-1) <--- non-wh trace first in IP-SPE
                            (TO to)
                            (DO do))
              (E_S .)
              (' '))
  (ID CMMALORY,60.2006)) 

( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ $for)
              (NP-MSR (QP (ADVR $as) (Q $miche))
                      (CODE {TEXT:for-as-miche})
                      (PP (P as)
                          (CP-CMP-SPE (WNP-1 0)
				      (C 0)
				      (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO +ge))
						  (BEP bene)
						  (ADJP (NP *T*-1)  <--- wh-trace first in ADJP
							(ADJ wor+te))))))
              (, ,)
              (NP-MSR (QP (ADVR as) (Q muche)))
              (MD shal)
              (NP-SBJ (PRO +ge))
              (BE bene)
              (VAN louede)
              (E_S .)
              (" "))
  (ID CMBRUT3,17.504))

( (IP-MAT (CONJ for)
          (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
          (VBP make)
          (IP-INF (NP-SBJ (D a) (N man))
                  (TO to)
                  (VB wene)
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (PRO+N hymself)))
                  (IP-INF (BE be)
                          (ADJP (ADJ lyk)
                                (NP (CP-FRL (WNP-1 0)
                                            (C that)
                                            (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                                                    (NEG+BEP nys)
                                                    (NEG nat)
                                                    (ADJP (NP *T*-1)  <--- wh-trace first in ADJP
                                                          (ADJ lyk))))))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMCTPARS,308.C1.843))

(NODE (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO we))
              (VBP (VBP +tenchen) (CONJ and) (VBP que+den)
                   (, .)
                   (CONJP (CONJ and)
                          (DOP do)))
              (NP-OB1 (CP-FRL (WNP-1 0)
                              (C +tat)
                              (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-1)
                                      (NP-2 (NP (PRO$ ure) (NS sowle))
                                            (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                                   (NP (PRO$ ure) (NS lichame))))
                                      (BEP be)
                                      (ADJP (NP *ICH*-2) <--- non-wh trace first in ADJP
                                            (ADJ biheue))))))
      (ID CMTRINIT,7.81))

( (IP-MAT (NP-SBJ (D +te) (N man)
                  (CP-REL *ICH*-1))
          (MD mai)
          (BE be)
          (ADJP-LOC (NP (NPR god))
                    (ADJS next))
          (, .)
          (CP-REL-1 (WNP-2 0)
                    (C +te)
                    (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ *T*-2)
                            (NP-3 (PRO him))
                            (BEP be+d)
                            (ADJP (NP *ICH*-3) <--- non-wh trace first in ADJP
                                  (ADJ iqueme))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMTRINIT,9.86))

Traces in NP, PP and ADVP

In all other constituents (NP, PP, ADVP) traces appear finally, with two exceptions:
  1. R-pronouns extracted from PPs appear before the head in the normal order
  2. extracted modifiers such as NP measure phrases and QPs appear first in their normal position
  1. traces of complements and adjuncts
    ( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ For)
                  (NP-SBJ (D thys))
                  (BEP ys)
                  (NP-OB1 (D the)
                          (ADJP (QS moste) (ADJS shamefullyste))
                          (N message)
                          (CP-REL-SPE (WNP-1 0)
    				  (C that)
    				  (IP-SUB-SPE (ADVP-TMP (ADV ever))
    					      (NP-SBJ (PRO y))
    					      (VBD herde)
    					      (IP-INF-SPE (NP-SBJ *arb*)
    							  (VB speke)
    							  (PP (P off)
    							      (NP *T*-1))))))  <--- wh-trace in PP 
                  (E_S .))
      (ID CMMALORY,43.1448)) 
    
    ( (IP-MAT (IP-MAT-3 (NP-2 (D +te) (NS vassels)
                              (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                                      (C +tat)
                                      (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO tay))
                                              (VBP serue)
                                              (PP (P wid)
                                                  (NP *T*-1)))))
                        (, ,)
                        (MD sal)
                        (NP-SBJ (PRO +tai))
                        (VB ta)
                        (NP-OB1 (N yeme))
                        (PP (P to)
                            (NP *ICH*-2)))  <--- non wh-trace in PP 
              (, ,)
              (CONJP (CONJ &)
                     (IP-MAT=3 (VB yelde)
                               (NP-OB1 (PRO +tame))
                               (PP (P til)
                                   (NP (D +te) (N celeresse)))
                               (ADJP-SPR (ADJ clene) (CONJ and) (ADJ hale))))
              (E_S ;))
      (ID CMBENRUL,26.874)) 
    
    ( (IP-MAT (CONJ &)
              (NP-SBJ *con*)
              (VBD lete)
              (IP-INF (NP-SBJ *arb*)
                      (VB ordeyne)
                      (NP-OB1 (NP (NS shippis))
                              (, ,)
                              (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                     (NP (QP (ADVR as) (Q miche))
                                         (PP (P as)
                                             (CP-CMP (WNP-2 0)
                                                     (C 0)
                                                     (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ-1 *exp*)
                                                             (BED was)
                                                             (NP-1 (N nede)
                                                                   (NP-COM *T*-2))   <--- wh-trace in NP 
                                                             (PP (P to)
                                                                 (NP (D +tat) (N Viage))))))))))
              (E_S .))
      (ID CMBRUT3,104.3158))
    
    ( (IP-MAT (CONJ For)
              (NP-SBJ (QP (ADVR so) (Q mykille))
                      (PP (P as)
                          (CP-CMP (WNP-1 0)
                                  (C 0)
                                  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO scho))
                                          (VBD lovyd)
                                          (NP-OB1 (PRO hym))
                                          (NP-MSR (NP-MSR *T*-1) <--- trace of modifier in first position
                                                  (QR mare)
                                                  (PP (P than)
                                                      (NP (Q alle) (OTHERS othere))))))))
              (, ,)
              (NP-SBJ (PRO$ her) (N payne))
              (VBD passed)
              (NP-OB1 (Q alle) (OTHERS othere))
              (E_S ,))
      (ID CMJULNOR,55.141))
    
    ( (IP-MAT-SPE (ALSO Also)
                  (NP-SBJ-1 (EX there))
                  (VBP lyvith)
                  (NEG nat)
                  (NP-1 (D a) (ADJR bygger) (N knyght)
                        (PP (P than)
                            (CP-CMP-SPE (WNP-2 0)
    				    (C 0)
    				    (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
    						(BEP ys)
    						(NP-OB1 (NP-MSR *T*-2) <--- trace of modifier in first position
    							(ONE one))))))
                  (E_S ;))
      (ID CMMALORY,41.1344))
    
    ( (IP-MAT (CONJ And)
              (PP (P whan)
                  (CP-ADV (C 0)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
                                  (VBD com)
                                  (PP (P to)
                                      (NP (NPR Benwyke))))))
              (NP-SBJ (PRO hit))
              (VBD fortuned)
              (IP-INF (NP-SBJ (Q both) (D the) (NS kynges)
                              (NP-PRN *ICH*-1))   <--- non-wh trace in NP
                      (BE be)
                      (ADVP-LOC (ADV there))
                      (, ,)
                      (NP-PRN-1 (NPR Ban) (CONJ and) (NPR Bors)))
              (E_S .))
      (ID CMMALORY,16.476)) 
    
    ( (IP-MAT (CONJ And)
              (NP-SBJ (Q all) (D this))
              (BED was)
              (VAN ordeyned)
              (IP-INF-PRP (FOR for) (TO to)
                          (VB kepe)
                          (NP-OB1 (NP (D the) (NS lordes))
                                  (CONJP *ICH*-1))   <--- non-wh trace in NP
                          (ADVP (ADV togyders))
                          (CONJP-1 (CONJ and)
                                   (NP (D the) (NS comyns))))
              (E_S ,))
    (ID CMMALORY,8.208)) 
    
    ( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
              (PP (P by)
                  (NP (NP-POS (NPR kynge) (NPR Ban)
                              (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                     (NX (NPR Bors)))
                              ($ his))
                      (N counceile)))
              (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
              (VBD lette)
              (IP-INF (NP-SBJ *arb*)
                      (VB (VB brenne) (CONJ and) (VB destroy))
                      (NP-OB1 (Q all) (D the) (N contrey)
                              (CP-REL *ICH*-1))   <--- non-wh trace in NP
                      (PP (P before)
                          (NP (PRO them)))
                      (CP-REL-1 (ADVP-2 (ADV there))
                                (C 0)
                                (IP-SUB (ADVP-LOC *T*-2)
                                        (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
                                        (MD sholde)
                                        (VB ryde))))
              (E_S .))
      (ID CMMALORY,20.613)) 
    
    (NODE (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                  (HVP hath)
                  (ADVP (ADV so))
                  (VBN enspired)
                  (NP-OB1 (PRO the))
                  (IP-INF (TO to)
                          (VB chese)
                          (ADVP (ADVR rather)
                                (PP *ICH*-1))   <--- non wh-trace in ADVP
                          (NP-OB1 (N chastite) (CONJ and) (N clennes))
                          (PP-1 (P than)
                                (NP (ADJ flesshly) (N lust)
                                    (CONJP (CONJ and)
                                           (NX (N likynge)))))))
          (ID CMAELR4,14.387)) 
    
    (NODE (IP-INF (VB suffir)
                  (NP-OB1 (PRO me))
                  (IP-INF (ADVP (ADVR as) (ADV well)
                                (PP *ICH*-1))     <--- non wh-trace in ADVP
                                (TO to)
                                (VB assay)
                                (PP-1 (P as)
                                      (NP (D thes) (OTHER other) (NS lordis)))))
          (ID CMMALORY,46.1535)) 
    
    (NODE (IP-SUB-3 (NP-SBJ *T*-2)
                    (VBD kakled)
                    (ADVP (ADVR so) (ADV heuyly)
                          (CP-DEG *ICH*-4))     <--- non wh-trace in ADVP
                    (IP-SUB-PRN=3 (CONJ and)
                                  (VBD wepte)
                                  (ADVP (ADVR so)  (ADV lowde)))
                    (PP (P for)
                        (NP (D the) (N deth)
                            (PP (P of)
                                (NP (NPR coppen)
                                    (NP-PRN (PRO$ their) (N moder))))))
                    (CP-DEG-4 (C that)
                              (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO it))
                                      (BED was)
                                      (NP-MSR (ADJ ferre))
                                      (VAN herde))))
          (ID CMREYNAR,10.148)) 
    
    
  2. traces of R-pronouns
    ( (IP-MAT (NP-VOC (N Sire))
              (NP-SBJ (PRO ich))
              (NP-OB1 (PRO hit))
              (DOD dude)
              (PP (P for)
                  (NP (N uuel)))
              (PP (P +tach)
                  (CP-ADV (C 0)
                          (CODE )
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ-2 *exp*)
                                  (ADVP-1 (ADV +ter))  <--- trace of R-pronoun in PP
                                  (NEG+VBD Necome)
                                  (NP-2 (N uuel))
                                  (PP (ADVP *ICH*-1)
                                      (P of)))))
              (E_S .))
      (ID CMANCRIW,II.238.3462)) 
    
    ( (IP-IMP (VBI Ga)
              (PP (P to)
                  (NP (NP (NP-POS (PRO$ +tine) (N$ feder))
                          (N burinesse))
                      (CONJP (CONJ o+der)
                             (ADVP-LOC (CP-FRL (WADVP-1 (ADV +ter))
                                               (C 0)
                                               (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (Q eni)
                                                               (PP (P of)
                                                                   (NP (PRO$ +tine) (N cunne))))
                                                       (VBP li+d)
                                                       (PP (P in)
                                                           (ADVP *T*-1))))))))
              (E_S .))
      (ID CMLAMBX1,35.433)) 
    
    (NODE (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
                  (NP-SBJ *con*)
                  (VBD turned)
                  (ADVP (ADV ayen))
                  (PP (P unto)
                      (NP (D the) (N abbay)
                          (CP-REL (WADVP-1 (ADV there))
                                  (C 0)
                                  (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO they))
                                          (VBD cam)
                                          (PP (P fro)
                                              (ADVP *T*-1))))))
                  (E_S ,))
          (ID CMMALORY,642.4012)) 
    
    
  3. traces of modifiers
    ( (IP-MAT (CONJ &)
              (NP-SBJ-1 *con*)
              (BEP beo+d)
              (QP-2 (Q muche))
              (PP (P for)
                  (NP (D +ti)))
              (IP-INF (NP-OB1 *-1)
                      (TO to)
                      (VB dreden)
                      (NP-MSR (QP *ICH*-2)
                              (D +te) (QR mare)))
              (E_S .))
      (ID CMANCRIW,II.146.1976)) 
    
    ( (IP-MAT (QP-3 (QP (Q Vele))
                    (CONJP *ICH*-2))
              (NP-SBJ-1 (EX +ter))
              (BEP bye+t)
              (NP-1 (QP *ICH*-3)
                    (OTHER o+tre) (NS zennes))
              (, /)
              (CONJP-2 (CONJ and)
                       (PP (P of)
                           (NP (ADJ diuers)
                               (N cas))))
              (, /)
              (PP (P ine)
                  (NP (N symonye)))
              (E_S .))
      (ID CMAYENBI,42.710)) 
    
    ( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ and)
                  (QP-1 (Q mekyl))
                  (ADVP-TMP (ADV now))
                  (BEP is)
                  (NP-SBJ (PRO$ my) (N sorwe))
                  (ADJP (QP *ICH*-1)
                        (ADJR les)
                        (PP (P +tan)
                            (CP-CMP-SPE (WADJP-2 0)
    				    (C 0)
    				    (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO I))
    						(VBP fynde)
    						(NP-OB1 (ADJP *T*-2)
    							(N comfort))
    						(PP (P in)
    						    (NP (PRO +te)))))))
                  (E_S .))
      (ID CMKEMPE,24.525))
    
    ( (IP-MAT (QP-1 (Q Micel))
              (HVD hadde)
              (NP-SBJ (NPR Henri)
                      (NP-PRN (N king)))
              (VBD gadered)
              (NP-OB1 (QP *ICH*-1)
                      (N gold) (CONJ &) (N syluer))
              (E_S ,))
      (ID CMPETERB,55.416)) 
    
    

Resumptive elements

Resumptive pronouns

When a wh-operator is connected to a resumptive pronoun rather than a trace, the pronoun is labelled {-RSP} and coindexed to the wh-operator. See also LEFT-DISLOCATED NPs.
(NODE (NP (D +ta) (ADJ lutthle) (N fole)
          (CP-REL (WNP-1 0)
                  (C +tat)
                  (IP-SUB (IP-SUB (ADVP-TMP (ADV +get))
                                  (NP-SBJ-RSP-1 (PRO hit))
                                  (BED wes)
                                  (VAG sukinde))
                          (CONJP (CONJ ne)
                                 (IP-SUB (VBN ber)
                                         (NP-SBJ-RSP-1 (PRO hit))
                                         (NEG+BED nes)
                                         (ADVP-TMP (ADV nefre))
                                         (NP-OB1 (Q nane) (N bur+dene))))
                          (CONJP (CONJ ne)
                                 (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ-RSP-1 (PRO hit))
                                         (NEG+BED nes)
                                         (ADVP-TMP (ADV nefere))
                                         (VAN ifuled)
                                         (PP (P of)
                                             (NP (Q nane) (OTHER o+dre) (N assa))))))))
      (ID CMLAMBX1,5.39))

(NODE (NP-LFD (ADJP (ADVR So) (ADJ worthy))
              (D a) (N knyght)
              (PP (P as)
                  (CP-CMP (WNP-2 0)
                          (C 0)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
                                  (BED was)
                                  (NP-OB1-RSP-2 (ONE one))))))
      (ID CMMALORY,58.1931)) 

Resumptive prepositions

In the case of resumptive prepositions, the trace of the extracted PP is included inside the brackets of the stranded preposition.
( (IP-MAT (CONJ and)
          (ADVP (ADV well))
          (NP-SBJ (PRO hit))
          (BEP ys)
          (VAN preved)
          (PP (P by)
              (NP (D the) (N adventure)
                  (PP (P of)
                      (NP (D the) (N swerde)))
                  (CP-REL (WPP-1 (WADV+P whereto))
                          (C 0)
                          (IP-SUB (NP-SBJ (PRO ye))
                                  (MD durst)
                                  (NEG nat)
                                  (VB sette)
                                  (PP (P to)
                                      (PP *T*-1))
                                  (NP-OB1 (PRO$ your) (N honde))))))
          (E_S .))
  (ID CMMALORY,632.3720)) 

( (CP-QUE-SPE (WPP-1 (RP Oute) (P of)
                     (WNP (WD what) (N courte)))
              (IP-SUB-SPE (BEP be)
			  (NP-SBJ (PRO ye))
			  (VBN com)
			  (PP (P fro)
			      (PP *T*-1)))
              (, ?) 
              (' ')
              (IP-MAT-PRN (VBD seyde) 
                          (NP-SBJ (NPR Balyn)))
              (E_S .)) 
  (ID CMMALORY,51.1695))

This same notation is used when the stranded preposition is not an exact copy of the one heading the extracted PP.
( (IP-MAT-SPE (CONJ And)
              (ADVP-TMP (ADV anone))
              (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
              (VBD shewed)
              (NP-OB2 (PRO hym))
              (NP-OB1 (D the) (ADJ ryght) (N beleve)
                      (PP (P of)
                          (NP (D the) (ADJ Holy) (NPR Trynyte`)))
                      (, ,)
                      (CP-REL-SPE (WPP-1 (P for)
					 (WNP (D the) (WPRO whyche)))
				  (C 0)
				  (IP-SUB-SPE (NP-SBJ (PRO he))
					      (VBD agreed)
					      (PP (P unto)
						  (PP *T*-1))
					      (PP (P with)
						  (NP (Q all) (PRO$ hys) (N herte))))))
              (E_S .)) 
  (ID CMMALORY,640.3964))

Empty objects

Empty objects (apart from traces) are not indicated since they are too difficult to distinguish from intransitive uses of transitive verbs.