| List of Tables and Figures | 第1-7页 |
| Acknowledgements | 第7-8页 |
| 中文摘要 | 第8-9页 |
| Abstract | 第9-11页 |
| 前言 | 第11-18页 |
| Introduction | 第18-21页 |
| ·A General Description of the Study | 第18-21页 |
| ·Need for the Study | 第18-20页 |
| ·Overview of the Thesis | 第20-21页 |
| Chapter 1 Literature Review | 第21-30页 |
| ·Introduction | 第21页 |
| ·Universal Grammar | 第21-22页 |
| ·The Subset Principle | 第22-23页 |
| ·Empirical Studies: the Universal Grammar and the Subset Principle in L2 | 第23-30页 |
| Chapter 2 Comparative Grammar of Existential Sentences | 第30-40页 |
| ·Introduction | 第30页 |
| ·Existential Constructions in English | 第30-31页 |
| ·Existential Constructions in Chinese and Their Counterparts in English | 第31-34页 |
| ·English Existential Verbs | 第34页 |
| ·Definiteness and Indefiniteness of the Subject | 第34-36页 |
| ·Conclusions and Implications for L2 Acquisition | 第36-40页 |
| Chapter 3 Methodology | 第40-47页 |
| ·Introduction | 第40页 |
| ·Research Purposes and Research Questions | 第40-41页 |
| ·The Design | 第41-47页 |
| ·Subjects | 第69-42页 |
| ·Instruments | 第42-44页 |
| ·Data Collection | 第44页 |
| ·Data Analysis | 第44-47页 |
| Chapter 4 Results and Discussion | 第47-64页 |
| ·Introduction | 第47页 |
| ·Qualitative and Quantitative Differences among the Three Groups in Using Existential Sentences and the Reasons | 第47-57页 |
| ·Qualitative and Quantitative Differences among the Three Groups | 第47-53页 |
| ·Possible Explanations for the Erroneous Sentences | 第53-55页 |
| ·Underlying Reasons for the Qualitative Differences and No Difference | 第55-57页 |
| ·Relaxation of the Definiteness on Subjects and the Reasons | 第57-61页 |
| ·Relaxation of the Definiteness on Subjects | 第57-60页 |
| ·Possible Reasons for the Learners' Incorporating Indefinite Subjects Easily | 第60-61页 |
| ·Lack of Using Other Existential Verbs and the Reasons | 第61-64页 |
| ·Lack of Using Other Existential Verbs | 第61-62页 |
| ·Possible Reasons for No use of Other Existential verbs | 第62-64页 |
| Chapter 5 Conclusion | 第64-69页 |
| ·Introduction | 第64页 |
| ·Major Findings | 第64-66页 |
| ·Theoretical Implications of the Study | 第66-67页 |
| ·Limitations of the Present Study and Considerations for the Future Study | 第67-69页 |
| References | 第69-73页 |
| Appendix Ⅰ | 第73-74页 |
| Appendix Ⅱ | 第74页 |
