BBN-ANG-253
Advanced Syntax Lecture Course
Autumn, 2014/15
More complex verb types 1
1
Ergative verbs

1
typically involve change of state (cf. unaccusatives)
a The window broke
b *There sank a ship

can occur transitively
2 a Peter broke the window
b *They arrived the train

they take a theme subject (cf. (1 a) or an agent subject and a theme object (cf. 2 a))

their event structure may be interpreted as simple (cf. (1 a) or as complex (cf. 2 a))
3
VP
DP
the ship
V’
V
sink
4
vP
DP
Peter
’causer’

v’
v
VP
abstract
[+cause] DP
v
the window
V’
V
break
evidence for the existence of the ’abstract causer’ light verb in English: the Hungarian
–ít morpheme, as in e.g. gurít, épít, etc…
2
Case Assignment: unaccusatives and ergatives
1
BBN-ANG-253
Advanced Syntax Lecture Course
Autumn, 2014/15
The subject of a finite clause is in Nominative, the object of a verb or preposition is in
Accusative, the subject of a non-finite clause is in Accusative as well.
Burzio’s Generalization: verbs which do not assign a theta-role to their subject do not
assign Accusative case to their objects.
Finite I assigns Nominative case. The small v head assigns Accusative case (cf, (6 b)).
The Case Filter: every overt DP must have case.
5
a a train arrived
b the ship sank
6
a there arrived a train
b the pirates sank the ship
7
a *it arrived a train
b *there arrived the train
Belletti (1988)*:
8 a Hӓn pani kiriat
pöydӓlle.
He put the book (acc, pl) on the table.
b Hӓn pani kirjoja
pöydӓlle.
He put (some) books (part, pl) on the table.
9
(p 1)
a Trois filles sont arrivées.
three girls (are) arrived
b Il
est arrivé trois filles.
there (is) arrived three girls
c *Il est arrivé la fille
there (is) arrived the girl
10 *There is every man in the next room.
(p 4)
(p 5)
*Belletti, A. (1988) The Case of Unaccusatives. Linguistic Inquiry 19/1. p 1-34
2
BBN-ANG-253
Advanced Syntax Lecture Course
Autumn, 2014/15
Partitive case and a definite DP are incompatible because partitive case implies a ”part
of a set” interpretation of the DP it is associated with, which is incompatible with
quantified DPs intrinsically expressing generality (cf. (11)).
11 a it rains [to feed the plants]
b *it seems that Rob ius rich to impress the neighbours
c there ran water down the cliff [to hide the mouth of the cave]
Evidence for the existence of the light v in there-constructions: it does impose some
restrictions on the subject it can appear with.
3

Transitive verbs and multiple light verb constructions
transitive verbs take an agent or an experiencer subject and a theme object; they can
also take an agent subject an experiencer as a second argument and no theme;
12 a the vampire killed the lady
b the lady fears the vampire
c the vampire frightens the lady

the event structure is complex: e1 = the vampire does something and e2 = the lady is
dead
13
vPagent
DP
the vampire
(agent)
v
v’
VP
DP
the lady
(theme)
V’
V
kill

extended projections: the interpretation of the argument of the light v (i.e. of the
element in [Spec, vP]) depends on the thematic verb: it can be a ’causer’ rather than an
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BBN-ANG-253
Advanced Syntax Lecture Course
Autumn, 2014/15
agent, or an agent, experiencer, etc… i.e. the light verb is responsible for passing on
the theta-role of its specifier, which originates with the thematic verb;

evidence from passives: functions of the light verb include (i) assigning an ’agent’
theta-role, (ii) assigning Accusative case to the theme in [Spec, VP];
14
vPpassive
v’
DP
v
VP
-ed
V’
DP
the lady
(theme)
V
kill

experiencer – theme transitives: there is no causative relationship between the two
arguments, cf. the event structure: e1 = the lady experiences something, e2 = the
vampire is feared; they can also be passivised;

multiple light verb constructions: the agent argument always precedes the experiencer
15 vPagent
v’
DP
the vampire
v
vPexperiencer
DP
the lady
v’
v
VP
V’
V
frighten
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BBN-ANG-253
Advanced Syntax Lecture Course
Autumn, 2014/15

the event structure is complex: e1 = the vampire does something; e2 = the lady
experiences something; e3 = the lady is frightened;

evidence for the existence of multiple light verbs: Urdu
16 a nadyane
saddafko
b Nadya-erg. Saddaf-dat.
xat
lik
lene
letter write take-inf.
diya
give-perf.masc.sg.
c Nadya let Saddaf write the letter (completely)

the thematic hierarchy: agent > experiencer > theme
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