Chapter One Introduction 1.1 Preliminaries 1.2 Research Goals 1.3 Organization of the Dissertation Chapter Two Theoretical Framework 2.1 Theoretical Bases 2.2 Focus: Some Associated Terms Chapter Three Shi Constructions 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Shi: Functions and Derivation Process 3.3 Syntactic Distributions and Constraints of Focus Marker Shi 3.4 Syntax of Shi Constructions 3.5 Conclusion Chapter Four Lian...dou/ye Constructions 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Syntactic Distributions and Limitations of Lian...dou/ye Constructions 4.3 Head of FocP:Lian or Dou/Ye 4.4 Syntax of Lian...dou/ye Constructions 4.5 Lian Deletion in Lian...dou/ye Constructions 4.6 Conclusion Chapter Five Zhi you...cai Constructions 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Syntactic Features of Zhi you'"cai Constructions 5.3 Syntax of Zhi you...cai Constructions 5.4 Conclusion Chapter Six Focus Constructions in Mandarin: Some Related Issues 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Criterion for Identifying Focus Markers/Heads: a Revised Edition 6.3 Object Focus in Focus Constructions 6.4 Foc-Criterion Accommodated Chapter Seven General Conclusions References