Morphology and Morphology and SyntaxSyntax

More on sentence structureMore on sentence structure

The head of sentencesThe head of sentences

Two unresolved questions: Two unresolved questions:

A.A. What is the head of a sentence?What is the head of a sentence?

B.B. What is the position of modals and What is the position of modals and auxiliary verbs in the sentence auxiliary verbs in the sentence structure?structure?

Maybe these questions are related.Maybe these questions are related.

In English, modals and auxiliaries do not In English, modals and auxiliaries do not occupy the same position as main verbs. occupy the same position as main verbs. They are further to the left:They are further to the left:

Sara does not watch that program.Sara does not watch that program.

*Sara watches not that program.*Sara watches not that program.

Sara will not watch that program.Sara will not watch that program.

*Sara not will watch that program.*Sara not will watch that program.

Idea: the ‘auxiliary’ position Idea: the ‘auxiliary’ position is the head position of the is the head position of the

sentence.sentence.general X-bar schema:general X-bar schema: XPXP

specifier(s) X’specifier(s) X’

XX complement(s) complement(s)

sentences: sentences: S (= AuxP) S (= AuxP)

NP Aux’NP Aux’

AuxAux VP VP

Another special property of modal Another special property of modal auxiliary verbs in English: they must be auxiliary verbs in English: they must be inflected for tense and agreement.inflected for tense and agreement.

*The carpenter hopes to can build the *The carpenter hopes to can build the house.house.

*She has could reading that book. *She has could reading that book.

So we relabel the ‘Aux’ position in the So we relabel the ‘Aux’ position in the sentence as the ‘Infl’ position.sentence as the ‘Infl’ position.

Full sentence structureFull sentence structure CPCP

C’C’

CC S (= InflP) S (= InflP)

NP Infl’NP Infl’

InflInfl VP VP

V’V’

VV

What happens if there is no auxiliary to What happens if there is no auxiliary to fill up the Infl position?fill up the Infl position?

In English: nothing, really.In English: nothing, really.

John will never read the paper in the John will never read the paper in the afternoon.afternoon.

John never reads the paper in the John never reads the paper in the afternoon.afternoon.

What happens if there is no auxiliary to fill up the What happens if there is no auxiliary to fill up the Infl position?Infl position?

In French: the main verb goes into the Infl position.In French: the main verb goes into the Infl position.

Jean a souvent donné une pomme à Marie.Jean a souvent donné une pomme à Marie.John has often given an apple to MaryJohn has often given an apple to Mary

*Jean souvent donne une pomme à Marie.*Jean souvent donne une pomme à Marie. John often gives an apple to MaryJohn often gives an apple to Mary

Jean donne souvent une pomme à Marie.Jean donne souvent une pomme à Marie.John gives often an apple to MaryJohn gives often an apple to Mary

CPCP

C’C’

CC S (= InflP) S (= InflP)

NP Infl’NP Infl’

InflInfl VP VP

souvent souvent V’V’

VV

Subject-verb inversionSubject-verb inversion

What has Geraldine read?What has Geraldine read?

*What Geraldine has read?*What Geraldine has read?

Why would you do a thing like that?Why would you do a thing like that?

*Why you would do a thing a like that?*Why you would do a thing a like that?

CPCP

Wh-phraseWh-phrase C’C’

CC S (= InflP) S (= InflP)

NP Infl’NP Infl’

InflInfl VP VP

V’V’

VV

No subject-verb inversion in embedded No subject-verb inversion in embedded questions:questions:

I wonder [if Frederick has ever heard that song].I wonder [if Frederick has ever heard that song].

*I wonder [if has Frederick ever heard that *I wonder [if has Frederick ever heard that song].song].

Fronted auxiliaries and complementizers are in Fronted auxiliaries and complementizers are in complementary distributioncomplementary distribution, because they both , because they both occupy the C position.occupy the C position.

Generalized verb Generalized verb movement to Cmovement to C

In English, verb movement to the C position is In English, verb movement to the C position is limited tolimited to

(i)(i) Interrogative sentencesInterrogative sentences

andand

(ii)(ii) Auxiliary verbsAuxiliary verbs

*Which string quartet heard George yesterday?*Which string quartet heard George yesterday?

Which string quartet did George hear Which string quartet did George hear yesterday?yesterday?

In some other languages, verb movement to In some other languages, verb movement to C can also apply to main verbs...C can also apply to main verbs...

Hvad koster en billet?Hvad koster en billet?what costs a ticketwhat costs a ticket‘‘What does a ticket cost?’What does a ticket cost?’

*Hvad gør en billet koste?*Hvad gør en billet koste? what does a ticket costwhat does a ticket cost

... and verb movement to C also occurs in declarative ... and verb movement to C also occurs in declarative sentences:sentences:

Denne film har børnene set.Denne film har børnene set.this film have children seenthis film have children seen‘‘The children have seen this film (rather than another The children have seen this film (rather than another

one)’.one)’.

*Denne film børnene*Denne film børnene har set.har set. this film childrenthis film children have seenhave seen

*This film have the children seen.*This film have the children seen.This film the children have seen.This film the children have seen.

CPCP

NPNP C’C’denne filmdenne film

CC S (= InflP) S (= InflP) harhar

NP Infl’NP Infl’ børnenebørnene

InflInfl VP VP ee

V’V’

V NPV NPset set ee

German: OV or VO?German: OV or VO?Er glaubt [CP dass seine Vorfahren diese Philosophie Er glaubt [CP dass seine Vorfahren diese Philosophie

begründeten].begründeten].he believes that his ancestors thishe believes that his ancestors this philosophy philosophy

establishedestablished‘‘He believes that his ancestors established this philosophy.’He believes that his ancestors established this philosophy.’

*Er glaubt [CP dass seine Vorfahren begründeten diese *Er glaubt [CP dass seine Vorfahren begründeten diese Philosophie].Philosophie].

he believes that his ancestors established thishe believes that his ancestors established this philosophy philosophy

Seine Vorfahren begründeten diese Philosophie.Seine Vorfahren begründeten diese Philosophie.his ancestors established this philosophyhis ancestors established this philosophy‘‘His ancestors established this philosophy.’His ancestors established this philosophy.’

*Seine Vorfahren diese Philosophie begründeten.*Seine Vorfahren diese Philosophie begründeten. his ancestors this philosophy establishedhis ancestors this philosophy established

So is German OV in embedded clauses but VO in main So is German OV in embedded clauses but VO in main clauses? Not really:clauses? Not really:

Seine Vorfahren hatten diese Philosophie begründet.Seine Vorfahren hatten diese Philosophie begründet.his ancestors had this philosophy establishedhis ancestors had this philosophy established

*Seine Vorfahren hatten begründet diese Philosophie.*Seine Vorfahren hatten begründet diese Philosophie. his ancestors had established this philosophyhis ancestors had established this philosophy

Seine Vorfahren würden diese Philosophie begründen.Seine Vorfahren würden diese Philosophie begründen.his ancestors would this philosophy establishhis ancestors would this philosophy establish

*Seine Vorfahren würden begründen diese Philosophie.*Seine Vorfahren würden begründen diese Philosophie. his ancestors would establish this philosophyhis ancestors would establish this philosophy

Conclusion: German is really OV. Conclusion: German is really OV.

So how come the finite verb ends up So how come the finite verb ends up in the second position of main in the second position of main clauses?clauses?

Because of generalized verb Because of generalized verb movement to C!movement to C!

CPCP

C’C’

CC S (= InflP) S (= InflP) dassdass

NP Infl’NP Infl’ seine Vorfahrenseine Vorfahren

InflInfl VP VP

V’V’

NP VNP Vdiese Philosophie diese Philosophie

begründetenbegründeten

CPCP

NPNP C’ C’seine Vorfahrenseine Vorfahren

CC S (= InflP) S (= InflP)begründetenbegründeten

NP Infl’NP Infl’ ee

InflInfl VP VP

V’V’

NP VNP Vdiese Philosophie diese Philosophie ee