| Acknowledgements | 第1-7页 |
| Abstract | 第7-10页 |
| 摘要 | 第10-14页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第14-21页 |
| ·Research Origin | 第14-16页 |
| ·Research Questions | 第16-17页 |
| ·Purposes of the Research | 第17-18页 |
| ·Dissertation Arrangement | 第18-19页 |
| ·Notes on the Data | 第19-21页 |
| Chapter 2Theories and Methods | 第21-46页 |
| ·Theories on Thematic Structure | 第21-37页 |
| ·Defining “Theme” | 第21-25页 |
| ·Defining “Thematic Markedness” | 第25-32页 |
| ·Interaction between Thematic Structure and Grammatical Structure | 第32-37页 |
| ·Grammaticalization Theories | 第37-44页 |
| ·Defining “Grammaticalization” | 第37-39页 |
| ·Survey of Development of Grammaticalization Theories | 第39-41页 |
| ·Motivations for Grammaticalization | 第41-44页 |
| ·Summary | 第44-46页 |
| Chapter 3A Synchronic Account of Thematic Structure in Early English | 第46-73页 |
| ·Thematic Markedness in Early English | 第48-66页 |
| ·A Brief Description of Word Order Pattern in Early English | 第48-49页 |
| ·An Outline of the Thematic Constituents in Early English Clauses | 第49-58页 |
| ·Themes in Negative Clauses | 第58-61页 |
| ·Themes in Questions | 第61-62页 |
| ·Preposition Stranding | 第62-64页 |
| ·Hierarchy of Thematic Markedness in Early English | 第64-66页 |
| ·Thematic Transformations in Early English | 第66-70页 |
| ·Topicalization | 第68-69页 |
| ·Passivization | 第69-70页 |
| ·Extraposition and It- / There- Insertion | 第70页 |
| ·Summary | 第70-73页 |
| Chapter 4 A Synchronic Account of Thematic Structure in Modern English | 第73-82页 |
| ·Thematic Markedness in Modern English | 第73-78页 |
| ·An Outline of Thematic Constituents in Modern English | 第73-76页 |
| ·Hierarchy of Thematic Markedness in Modern English | 第76-78页 |
| ·Thematic Transformations in Modern English | 第78-81页 |
| ·Passivization | 第78页 |
| ·Extraposition and Tough Movement | 第78-79页 |
| ·Cleft Sentences and Pseudo-cleft Sentences | 第79-81页 |
| ·Summary | 第81-82页 |
| Chapter 5 Grammaticalization of Thematic Structure –A Diachronic Perspective | 第82-104页 |
| ·Grammaticalization of Thematic Markedness | 第82-86页 |
| ·Diachronic Shift of Thematic Markedness | 第82-85页 |
| ·Grammaticalization of Thematic Markedness and Word Order Change | 第85-86页 |
| ·Grammaticalization of Thematic Transformations | 第86-99页 |
| ·Passivization | 第86-93页 |
| ·Cleft and Pseudo-cleft Sentences | 第93-95页 |
| ·Tough Movement and Extraposition | 第95-99页 |
| ·Motivations for Grammaticalization of Thematic Transformations | 第99-101页 |
| ·Motivations for Grammaticalization of Passive Voice | 第99-100页 |
| ·Motivations for Grammaticalization of Tough Movement and Extraposition | 第100-101页 |
| ·Summary | 第101-104页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第104-113页 |
| ·A Summary of the Dissertation | 第104-110页 |
| ·Innovations and Limitations of the Research | 第110-111页 |
| ·The Prospect of Future Research | 第111-113页 |
| Bibliography | 第113-120页 |
