Introducing English Linguistics

Embedding and recursion.
The occurrence of a prepositional phrase
within a noun phrase is one example of a more general phenomenon in
syntax, embedding: the inclusion of one structure within another struc-
ture. The noun phrase below contains multiple instances of embedding:
... acts of successful mob violence against the authority of the church
and nobility 
(ICE-USA W2A-001)
The head noun of the phrase, acts, is followed by an embedded preposi-
tional phrase beginning with of. This prepositional phrase, in turn, con-
tains an embedded noun phrase, successful mob violence. Embedded in the
head of this noun phrase, mob violence, is another prepositional phrase
beginning with against, whose object, the authority, contains an additional
embedded prepositional phrase: of the church and nobility.
The process of repeatedly embedding similar structures in other struc-
tures is known as recursion. In theory, recursion is potentially endless,
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INTRODUCING ENGLISH LINGUISTICS