本論文嚐試以衍生語法（generative grammar）的觀點，就日語「te子句」的「句法結構」以及「語意功能」進行綜合且明確的條理化分析。本研究獲致以下結論：（一）「te子句」若為「從屬子句」，則分析為「不定子句」，與「主要子句」的「有定子句」有所區別。（二）「te子句」因為不是單純的「動詞組」（VP），所以其內部含有一個「主語」。（三）做為「主要子句」的「有定子句」（Fin），其「主部」可出現「ru形／ta形」，而「時制詞組」的「主部」（T）則可出現「ta形」。（四）如果此項「句法結構」的設定得以成立，那麼「衍生語法」中的「投射原理」（Projection Principle）、「擴大投射原理」（Extended Projection Principle）與「論旨關係準則」（θ-criterion）就可以獲得滿足。（五）有關「te子句」「語意內涵」的解釋，是比較偏向「語意解釋」或「語用解釋」的問題，而不是「句法結構」上的問題。

In this paper, we attempt to make a comprehensive and explicit generalization about the syntactic structure and semantic meaning of the te-clause in Japanese from the viewpoint of "generative grammar". Our study has led to the following conclusions: 1. A te-clause functioning as a subordinate clause is analyzed as an infinite clause, as distinguished from a finite clause functioning as a main clause.2. A te-clause is not only used as a verb phrase (VP); therefore, it contains a subject.3. At the head of a finite phrase which functions as a main clause, "ru/ta" may be used; meanwhile, at the head of a time phrase (TP), "te" may be used.4. Under the assumption of the above-mentioned syntactic construct ion, the "Projection principle", the "Extended Projection Principle" and the "θ-criterion" in generative grammar may be satisfied.5. Under the assumption that all "te-clauses" are either "TP" or "vP, " the interpretation of the te-clause's semantic content , rather than being linked with "syntactic construction," is more likely to be linked with "semantic interpretation" or "pragmatic interpretation."