In syntax, what does an asterisk next to a phrase indicate?

• A. The phrase is acceptable
• B. The phrase is a question
• C. The phrase is not acceptable
• D. The phrase is a proper noun

Answer: (C)

An asterisk marks ungrammatical forms in syntax. When a phrase has an asterisk, it means that it does not meet the language’s grammar rules and would be judged unacceptable by native speakers. This convention helps linguists distinguish well-formed constituents from strings that violate structure, agreement, movement, or other constraints. It’s not about questions or proper nouns—the mark signals that the form simply isn’t acceptable in the language, rather than describing its meaning or category. In practice, a sentence or phrase without the asterisk is considered acceptable, while the starred form would be rejected in a native speaker judgment.