Abstract The aim of the present study is to investigate the syntax and semantics of fragments in English echo questions. Sub-sentential phrases which have the same meaning and function as full sentential echo questions have not received much attention in previous literature. In the present thesis, I argue that these fragments are the results of a clausal ellipsis, and that an in-situ deletion analysis that excludes movement of a focused constituent to the periphery of a clause is required to derive the fragments. With regard to the semantics of echo questions and echo fragments, following Beaver et al.s (2017) analysis, I suggest the idea of incorporating the notion of QUD (Question Under Discussion; Roberts, 1996) into the focus-based accounts of the derivation of echo questions (Beck & Reis, 2018), in need of taking the effect of context into consideration. In terms of the syntax of echo fragments, I first argue for an in-situ deletion approach (Griffiths et al. 2018, 2020). I show that the fragment of echo questions can present itself in various sizes including immovable XPs, which are not generally allowed to move; thereby arguing against the movement and deletion approach (Merchant, 2001, 2004, etc.). Then I propose that a syntactic identity condition is in need (Merchant, 2008a), by providing novel empirical examples that undermine the semantic identity condition. Lastly, I argue that implementing Bürings (2006) unrestricted vertical focus projection allows for massive fragments—the fragments consisting of a constituent bigger than a single narrowly focused constituent.

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