episode 7b. subjects, agreement, and case 6.1-6.3 cas lx 522 syntax i

Episode 7b. Subjects, Episode 7b. Subjects, agreement,agreement,and caseand case

6.1-6.36.1-6.3

CAS LX 522CAS LX 522Syntax ISyntax I

Historical interludeHistorical interlude Back in the old days, people Back in the old days, people hypothesized that hypothesized that Pat will Pat will charm snakes charm snakes had a structure had a structure like this.like this. The subject NP The subject NP PatPat was in the was in the specifier of “IP” (what we call specifier of “IP” (what we call “TP”), and the VP contained “TP”), and the VP contained only the verb only the verb charm charm and the and the object NP object NP snakessnakes..

PatPat got an Agent got an Agent -role by -role by being in SpecIP, even though being in SpecIP, even though the fact that there is an the fact that there is an Agent Agent -role to be had is -role to be had is determined by the verb down determined by the verb down in the VP.in the VP.

VPIwill

I

IP

NPPat

Vcharm

NPsnakes

Historical interludeHistorical interlude Nevertheless, this predicts the Nevertheless, this predicts the normal word order pretty well, and normal word order pretty well, and so it was hypothesized that the so it was hypothesized that the verb simply assigned one of its verb simply assigned one of its --roles directly to SpecIP.roles directly to SpecIP. No big deal, syntax works in strange and No big deal, syntax works in strange and mysterious ways.mysterious ways.

At a certain point, someone started At a certain point, someone started thinking about sentences like thinking about sentences like these:these: All the students will take the exam.All the students will take the exam. The students will all take the exam.The students will all take the exam.

It’s fairly clear here that It’s fairly clear here that all the all the studentsstudents is an NP, that it forms a is an NP, that it forms a coherent unit, a coherent concept. coherent unit, a coherent concept. AllAll really belongs with really belongs with the the studentsstudents..

VPIwill

I

IP

NPPat

NPsnakes

Vcharm

Historical interludeHistorical interlude All the students will take the All the students will take the exam.exam.

The students will all take the The students will all take the exam.exam.

Back in the even older days, the Back in the even older days, the hypothesis was that there was a hypothesis was that there was a special rule that turned the special rule that turned the first sentence into the second.first sentence into the second.

The The Quantifier FloatQuantifier Float rule would rule would move move allall over to the right, next over to the right, next to the VP.to the VP.

allall NP … VP NP … VP NP … NP … allall + VP + VP

VPIwill

I

IP

NPPat

NPsnakes

Vcharm

Historical interludeHistorical interlude Not all quantifiers are subject to Not all quantifiers are subject to

Quantifier Float:Quantifier Float: Quantifiers:Quantifiers: every, some, all, most, every, some, all, most,

several, many, both, four, …several, many, both, four, …

Every student will take the exam.Every student will take the exam.*Student will every take the exam.*Student will every take the exam.

Several students will take the exam.Several students will take the exam.*Students will several take the exam.*Students will several take the exam.

It works for It works for bothboth and and allall::The students will both take the exam.The students will both take the exam.The students will all take the exam.The students will all take the exam.

What’s a difference between What’s a difference between everyevery, , somesome, , severalseveral, , manymany and and bothboth, , allall??

VPIwill

I

IP

NPPat

NPsnakes

Vcharm

Historical interludeHistorical interlude Upon further reflection, some Upon further reflection, some enterprising syntacticians hit upon enterprising syntacticians hit upon the idea that rather than floating the idea that rather than floating allall to its position next to VP, to its position next to VP, allall might instead have been “left might instead have been “left behind” by a subject that had behind” by a subject that had moved.moved.

will [all [the students]] take the exam.will [all [the students]] take the exam.

[all [the students]][all [the students]]ii will will ttii take the take the exam.exam.

[the students][the students]ii will [all will [all ttii] take the ] take the exam.exam.

And why would all the students have And why would all the students have been down there? Well, that would been down there? Well, that would simplify assignment of simplify assignment of -roles.-roles.

VPIwill

I

IP

NPPat

NPsnakes

Vcharm

The VP-Internal Subject The VP-Internal Subject HypothesisHypothesis

The verb (head of VP) The verb (head of VP) can assign can assign -roles to -roles to other things within other things within the VP, which is a the VP, which is a natural explanation natural explanation for how the choice of for how the choice of verb controls whether verb controls whether an Agent an Agent -role is -role is assigned or not.assigned or not.

This idea became This idea became known as the known as the VP-VP-Internal Subject Internal Subject HypothesisHypothesis..

V

I

I

IP

NPPat

will

ti

VP

NPsnakes

Vcharm


For us, we’ve supposed For us, we’ve supposed from the beginning that from the beginning that assignment of assignment of -roles is -roles is necessarily local. This necessarily local. This may not seem like a very may not seem like a very surprising hypothesis.surprising hypothesis.

But it was at the time a But it was at the time a rather unintuitive idea, rather unintuitive idea, and so various people and so various people set out to see if some set out to see if some of the predictions this of the predictions this makes are borne out in makes are borne out in the grammatical data.the grammatical data.

V

I

I

IP

NPPat

will

ti

VP

NPsnakes

Vcharm


It turns out that as It turns out that as people looked, there people looked, there were reasons to believe were reasons to believe this.this. The new analysis of The new analysis of Quantifier Float no longer Quantifier Float no longer relies on an idiosyncratic relies on an idiosyncratic rule of English, but more rule of English, but more general principles.general principles.

The assignment of The assignment of -roles -roles can now be more directly can now be more directly related to the properties related to the properties of the verb.of the verb.

And we can make sense of And we can make sense of therethere constructions in a constructions in a more straightforward way.more straightforward way.

V

I

I

IP

NPPat

will

ti

VP

NPsnakes

Vcharm

Back to the presentBack to the present The basic components of the quantifier The basic components of the quantifier “stranding” phenomenon are:“stranding” phenomenon are:

All the studentsAll the students is a constituent. is a constituent. The The studentsstudents is an NP inside is an NP inside all the all the studentsstudents.. [all [[all [NPNP the students]] the students]]

Either Either all the studentsall the students or just or just the the studentsstudents can move to SpecTP, to satisfy can move to SpecTP, to satisfy the [the [uuN*] feature of T.N*] feature of T.

So So all the studentsall the students and and the studentsthe students are are both NPs.both NPs. [[NPNP all [ all [NPNP the students]] the students]]

So So allall is essentially a noun, but one is essentially a noun, but one that takes an NP complement that takes an NP complement ((allall: [N, : [N, uuN*, …])N*, …]).. We’re assuming here that We’re assuming here that allall is not an adjunct, is not an adjunct, but in fact a head, taking the NP as a but in fact a head, taking the NP as a complement. Why?complement. Why?

all

NP

NP

thestudents

Quantifier Quantifier stranding is stranding is still often still often referred to referred to

as as “quantifier “quantifier float” to float” to this day, this day,

even though even though the name no the name no

longer longer reflects the reflects the analysis.analysis.

vv

All the students will take All the students will take the examthe exam

We start by building our We start by building our vvP.P. Merge the NP Merge the NP the examthe exam and the V and the V taketake (checks [ (checks [uuN*] N*] on V)on V)

Merge Merge vv and VP (HoP) and VP (HoP) Move V to Move V to v v (checks [(checks [uuV*] on V*] on vv)) Merge the N Merge the N all all and the NP and the NP the studentsthe students (checks (checks [[uuN*] on N*] on allall))

<V>vagent[uInfl:, …]

VPv

Vtake

vvPP

all

NP

NP

thestudents

NP

the exam

vv


We Merge the M We Merge the M willwill with with vvP (HoP)P (HoP) This values [This values [uuInfl:] on Infl:] on vv as [ as [uuInflInfl:M].:M].

<V>vagent[uInfl:M, …]

VPv

Vtake

vvPP

all

NP

NP

thestudents

NP

the exam

MM

Mwill

[uInfl:, …]

vv


We Merge the T We Merge the T willwill with MP (HoP)with MP (HoP) This values [This values [uuInfl:] on M as [Infl:] on M as [uuInflInfl::pres*pres*] ] (strong).(strong).


VPv

Vtake

vvPP

all

NP

NP

thestudents

NP

the exam

MPMP

Mwill

[uInfl:pres*, …]

TT

T[tense:pres,

uN*,…]

vv


We move M up to TWe move M up to T This checks the strong [This checks the strong [uuInflInfl::pres*pres*] on M.] on M.


VPv

Vtake

vvPP

all

NP

NP

thestudents

NP

the exam

MPMP

Mwill

[uInfl:pres*, …]

TT

T[tense:pres,uN*,…]

<M>

T


Now, there are two Now, there are two possibilities:possibilities: Move the NP Move the NP all the all the studentsstudents..

Move the NP Move the NP the studentsthe students..

Is Is all the studentsall the students closer to T than closer to T than the the

students students is?is?

Not if we define Not if we define “closer” as we did, in “closer” as we did, in terms of c-command.terms of c-command.

Where X c-commands Y Where X c-commands Y and Z, Y is closer to and Z, Y is closer to X than Z is if Y c-X than Z is if Y c-

commands Z.commands Z.

vv


VPv

Vtake

vvPP

all

NP

NP

thestudents

NP

the exam

MPMP

Mwill

[uInfl:pres*, …]

TT


<M>

T


Now, there are two Now, there are two possibilities:possibilities: Move the NP Move the NP all the studentsall the students.. Move the NP Move the NP the studentsthe students..

vv


VPv

Vtake

vvPP

all

NP

NP

thestudents

NP

the exam

MPMP

Mwill

[uInfl:pres*, …]

TT


<M>

T

TPTP

<NP>

The students will all take The students will all take the examthe exam

Now, there are two Now, there are two possibilities:possibilities: Move the NP Move the NP all the studentsall the students.. Move the NP Move the NP the studentsthe students..

vv


VPv

Vtake

vvPP

all

NP

<NP>

NP

the exam

MPMP

Mwill

[uInfl:pres*, …]

TT

T[tense:pres, uN*,…]

<M>

T

TPTP

NP

thestudents

Expletive constructionsExpletive constructions

An An expletiveexpletive is an element that can be in is an element that can be in subject position without having received subject position without having received a a -role from anywhere.-role from anywhere. ItIt had been raining.had been raining. ThereThere were fans rioting on Comm Ave.were fans rioting on Comm Ave.

We’ve seen We’ve seen itit before. But there is also before. But there is also therethere, which we’ll concentrate on now. , which we’ll concentrate on now. Neither means anything, neither gets a Neither means anything, neither gets a --role, both appear to satisfy the [role, both appear to satisfy the [uuN*] N*] feature of T.feature of T. Both can be used in other ways: Both can be used in other ways: I saw it over I saw it over therethere..

Expletive constructionsExpletive constructions There were fans rioting on Comm Ave.There were fans rioting on Comm Ave. Fans were rioting on Comm Ave.Fans were rioting on Comm Ave.

<V>

v

vP

<fans>

T

TP

fans

v+Vriot

ProgP

<be>

T

Tbe

<V>

v

vP

fans

T

TP

there

v+Vriot

ProgP

<be>

T

Tbe

CaseCase

Recall that pronouns in English show Recall that pronouns in English show distinctions in case:distinctions in case: Subject pronouns are in Subject pronouns are in nominativenominative case case Object pronouns are in Object pronouns are in accusativeaccusative case case

I saw her. She saw me. They saw him.I saw her. She saw me. They saw him.

How can we ensure the correlation?How can we ensure the correlation?

Nom caseNom case

Nominative subjects generally appear in Nominative subjects generally appear in the specifier of a the specifier of a finitefinite T. T. Finite T is pretty much any kind of T except Finite T is pretty much any kind of T except the infinitive.the infinitive.

We can treat case like we treated tense We can treat case like we treated tense inflection:inflection: Suppose T also has a [Suppose T also has a [uucase:nomcase:nom] feature.] feature. Suppose nominative NPs have a [Suppose nominative NPs have a [uucase:case:] ] feature.feature.

Suppose the [Suppose the [uucase:nomcase:nom] on T can value ] on T can value [[uucase:case:] on the NP, checking ] on the NP, checking bothboth..

So T needs a nom NP, and a nom NP needs T.So T needs a nom NP, and a nom NP needs T.

Acc caseAcc case

Subjects check nominative case with Subjects check nominative case with T. Objects have accusative case, T. Objects have accusative case, which we can treat in the same kind which we can treat in the same kind of way.of way. Suppose Suppose vv has [ has [uucase:acccase:acc].]. Suppose accusative NPs have [Suppose accusative NPs have [uucase:case:]] Suppose the [Suppose the [ucucase:accase:acc] on ] on vv can value the can value the [[uucase:case:] feature on the NP, checking both.] feature on the NP, checking both.

Nominative case is a relation between Nominative case is a relation between (finite) T and an NP, accusative case (finite) T and an NP, accusative case is a relation between is a relation between vv and an NP. and an NP.

Notes on caseNotes on case Nominative case is associated with Nominative case is associated with finite finite T. T. SheShe will charm snakes.will charm snakes. I wantI want herher to charm snakes.to charm snakes. I expectI expect herher to charm snakes.to charm snakes.

Non-finite T is not associated with nominative Non-finite T is not associated with nominative case. It’s not actually associated with accusative case. It’s not actually associated with accusative case either, but we’ll come back to that later.case either, but we’ll come back to that later.

Because NPs have an Because NPs have an unvalued unvalued [[uucase:case:] ] feature, we can suppose that pronouns feature, we can suppose that pronouns always enter the numeration the same always enter the numeration the same way, and are valued based on where they way, and are valued based on where they are Merged.are Merged. pronoun [N, pronoun [N, uucase:, …]case:, …]

Notes on caseNotes on case Although in English we only see the Although in English we only see the morphological effect of case on pronouns, morphological effect of case on pronouns, we assume that we assume that all NPs have an unvalued all NPs have an unvalued [[uucase:case:] feature] feature.. Plenty of languages other than English show case Plenty of languages other than English show case on all NPs, not just on pronouns. Case is on all NPs, not just on pronouns. Case is something that goes with being an NP. It’s just something that goes with being an NP. It’s just something you often don’t hear in English.something you often don’t hear in English.

Notational shortcuts:Notational shortcuts: [[nomnom] is used for [] is used for [uucase:nomcase:nom] (on T, or NP when ] (on T, or NP when checked)checked)

[[accacc] is used for [] is used for [uucase:acccase:acc] (on ] (on vv, or NP when , or NP when checked)checked)

[[casecase] is used for [] is used for [uucase:case:] (on an NP)] (on an NP)

Subject-verb agreementSubject-verb agreement Recall that in English, the Recall that in English, the --features of the subject have an features of the subject have an effect on the morphology of the verb:effect on the morphology of the verb: Fans were rioting on Comm Ave.Fans were rioting on Comm Ave. A fan was rioting on Comm Ave.A fan was rioting on Comm Ave.

While we’re here, we might as well While we’re here, we might as well account for this too. It is also an account for this too. It is also an agreement relation, between the agreement relation, between the subject and, eventually, the verb (or subject and, eventually, the verb (or auxiliary, if there is one).auxiliary, if there is one).

Subject-verb agreementSubject-verb agreement The verb gets its tense inflection The verb gets its tense inflection specified by T when, e.g., the [tense:pres] specified by T when, e.g., the [tense:pres] feature of T values the [feature of T values the [uuInfl:Infl:] feature of ] feature of vv..

Since the subject already agrees with T Since the subject already agrees with T (the [(the [nomnom] feature of T checks the [] feature of T checks the [casecase] ] feature of the subject), we’ll incorporate feature of the subject), we’ll incorporate subject agreement into this process.subject agreement into this process.

Notice that we still want this agreement to Notice that we still want this agreement to be mediated by T (sometimes it values, be mediated by T (sometimes it values, e.g., Perf):e.g., Perf): TheyThey havehave been reading novels.been reading novels. SheShe hashas been reading novels.been reading novels.

Subject-verb agreementSubject-verb agreement Suppose then that T has a [Suppose then that T has a [uu::] feature as ] feature as well.well.

The subject has (interpretable) The subject has (interpretable) -features -features that value the [that value the [uu::] feature of T.] feature of T. Fans were rioting on Comm Ave.Fans were rioting on Comm Ave. T [T, T [T, uuN*N*, , uu::, , nomnom]] fans [N, fans [N, :pl, :pl, casecase]]

So, once T is in the structure, c-So, once T is in the structure, c-commanding commanding fansfans in Spec in SpecvvP, we get:P, we get: T [T, T [T, uuN*N*, , uu:pl, :pl, nomnom]] fans [N, fans [N, :pl, :pl, nomnom]]

Subject-verb agreementSubject-verb agreement Finally, we suppose that the (checked) Finally, we suppose that the (checked) [[uu:pl] feature of T, also values a :pl] feature of T, also values a [[uuInfl:Infl:] feature on a lower ] feature on a lower vv (or Perf, or (or Perf, or Prog).Prog).

The rules of pronunciation will tell us The rules of pronunciation will tell us that a that a vv with the verb with the verb riotriot adjoined to it adjoined to it sounds like:sounds like: ““riotsriots” if ” if vv has the feature [ has the feature [uuInflInfl:pres,sg]:pres,sg] ““riotriot” if ” if vv has the feature [ has the feature [uuInflInfl:pres,pl].:pres,pl].

Notice that T values a [Notice that T values a [uuInfl:Infl:] feature all ] feature all at once, with any relevant feature(s) it at once, with any relevant feature(s) it has (so, tense and has (so, tense and -features both).-features both).

She likes themShe likes them So, let’s walk through it.So, let’s walk through it. We start by merging We start by merging likelike and the and the 3pl pronoun.3pl pronoun.

NPpronoun[N, :3pl, case]

VP

Vlikes[V]

She likes themShe likes them vv [ [vv, , uuN*N*, , uuInfl:Infl:, , uuV*V*, , accacc]] We Merge We Merge vv with VP (HoP). with VP (HoP). The [The [accacc] on ] on vv matches, values, and matches, values, and checks the [checks the [casecase] on the pronoun, ] on the pronoun, checking itself as well.checking itself as well.

Agree is lazy, we can do this without any further Agree is lazy, we can do this without any further Merging or Moving.Merging or Moving.

NPpronoun[N, :3pl, acc]

VP

Vlikes[V]

vv

v[v, uN*,uInfl:, uV*, acc]

She likes themShe likes them The V moves up to adjoin to The V moves up to adjoin to vv to to check the [check the [uuV*V*] feature of ] feature of vv..


VP

<V>

vv

v


Vlikes[V]

She likes themShe likes them The V moves up to adjoin to The V moves up to adjoin to vv to to check the [check the [uuV*V*] feature of ] feature of vv..

The 3sg feminine pronoun is The 3sg feminine pronoun is Merged to check the [Merged to check the [uuN*N*] feature ] feature of of vv..


VP

<V>

vv

v


Vlikes[V]

vvPP

NPpronoun

[N, :3fsg, case]

She likes themShe likes them The T is Merged with The T is Merged with vvP (HoP).P (HoP). The [nom] feature of T matches, values, and checks the [case] feature of the pronoun, checking itself in the process.


VP

<V>

vv

v


Vlikes[V]

vvPP

NPpronoun

[N, :3fsg, nom]

TT

T[T, tense:pres, u:, uN*, nom]

She likes themShe likes them The [:3fsg] feature of NP values and checks the [u:] feature of T.


VP

<V>

vv

v


Vlikes[V]

vvPP

NPpronoun

[N, :3fsg, nom]

TT

T[T, tense:pres,

u:3fsg, uN*, nom]

She likes themShe likes them The [u:3fsg] and [tense:pres] features of T value and check the [uInfl:] feature of v.

From now on: (Finite) T can only value a lower [uInfl:] feature once T itself has a value for []. Both [tense] and [] value the lower [uInfl:] feature. First step is always to check the [u:] feature on T, after which T will check the lower [uInfl:] feature.


VP

<V>

vv

v

v[v, uN*,uInfl:pres3fsg, uV*, acc]

Vlikes[V]

vvPP

NPpronoun

[N, :3fsg, nom]

TT

T[T, tense:pres,

u:3fsg, uN*, nom]

She likes themShe likes them Finally, the NP is moved up and Merged with T in order to check the EPP feature (the [uN*] feature) of T.


VP

<V>

vv

v

vvPP

<NP>

TT

T[T, tense:pres,

u:3fsg, uN*, nom]

NPpronoun

[N, :3fsg, nom]

TPTP


Vlikes[V]

She likes themShe likes them All uninterpretable features are checked, the pronunciation rules give us she likes them.


VP

<V>

vv

v

vvPP

<NP>

TT

T[T, tense:pres,

u:3fsg, uN*, nom]

NPpronoun

[N, :3fsg, nom]

TPTP


Vlikes[V]

episode 7b. subjects, agreement, and case 6.1-6.3 cas lx 522 syntax i

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