This textbook provides a concise, readable introduction to contemporary work in syntactic theory, particularly to key concepts of Chomsky's minimalist program. Andrew Radford gives a general overview of the main theoretical concepts and descriptive devices used in 1990s work. Syntax: a Minimalist Introduction presupposes no prior knowledge of syntax or any language other than English: the analysis is based on Standard, Belfast, Jamaican, Shakespearean and Child English. There are exercises (with helpful hints and model answers) and a substantial glossary.This is an abridged version of Radford's major new textbook Syntactic Theory and the Structure of English: a Minimalist Approach (also published by Cambridge University Press), and will be welcomed as a short introduction to current syntactic theory.