Verb Syntax and the Minimalist Program

Section A

Some Minimalist Problems (Choose 2 problems)

1.

The structure of the Program

a. What is the organization of the MP? Which levels of representation present in GB (and Aspects
Grammars) have been given up? Why?
b. Which are the operations of Syntax in the early phase of the Minimalist Program. (up to 1998).
Define them.
c. Which are the operations of Syntax in the later phase of the Minimalist Program? Define and
illustrate them:
2.
Feature-theory Define and illustrate the following types of features: a) strong/ weak features; b)
interpretable/uninterpretable features; c) the EPP feature.
3.
Feature Theory What is the LF of the sentence Bill came last night under the strong/weak
features hypothsis vs. under the interpretable/uninterpretable features hypothesis. Refer to the checking of
Tense.
4.

Subject object asymmetries in English. Nominative as uninterpretable Tense

4.1

The T-to- C asymmetry

Give your own examples to illustrate the T-to-C asymmetry in questions. Account for the
asymmetry.
4.2

Nominative as Uninterpretable Tense. Comment on the following paradigm. Derive one sentence.
a.
a
b.
b.

What delicate flowers she bought!

*What delicate flowers did she buy!
*What kind of flowers she bought?
What kind of flowers did she buy?

4.3

The That Trace effect

Consider the following examples involving the That-trace effect. a) Show the similarity between
the That-trace effect and T-to-C asymmetry. (Consider the feature structure of the CP-layer.) b) Show that
the exclusion of the ungrammatical example follows from a Principle of Economy of Derivation.
(33)

a. Who did John say [CP twho[TP twho will buy the book ]?
b. *Who did John say [twho that [twho will buy the book?]]

4.4

That-deletion
Comment on the following paradigm. Why is the deletion of that infelicitous in the object clause

in (38c)

(38)

a.
b.
c.

Mary knows (that) Sue will enjoy reading books like this.
Mary knows that [books like this] Sue will enjoy reading.
* Mary knows [books like this] Sue will enjoy reading

More Practical Problems (choose 4)

1.

Case unification projects in the GB program: Case under government

a. Present this hypothesis. Why was it abandoned?
b. How does this hypothesis account for the following examples:
Everybody still considers him to be a genius
Mary talked about him.

2.

Case Theory and language description:

a) Define and illustrate semantic/ inherent/ lexical/ structural case.

b) Consider the argument nominals in the following English and Romanian examples. Specify the
Case assigner and the theta assigner for each DP/NP. Specify the type of case assigned to nominals.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7
8.
9.
10.

They arranged for me to be accommodated in the student hostel.

They believed the reporter to have arrived a day before.
Santa Clause has brought splendid gifts for the deserving children.
Ionele! Fii cuminte!
Numai pe Ion l-au ascultat lectia.
Numai Ion a fost ascultat lectia/*Lectia a fost ascultata numai pe Ion).
Numai Ion ajuta toti colegii.
John was asked the time. (*The time was asked John).
I would be amazed for you to be fired right now.
Bogatul nu crede celui sarac.

3. Transitivity
a. Classify the following verbs in terms of unaccusative /unergative/ transitive. Justify your
selection indicating at least one relevant property of the verb.
1. Mary screamed herself red in the face.
2. Such houses sell very well.
3. There arrived another letter last night.
4. She wept the bitter tears of defeat.
5. Her cheeks flushed crimson.
6. The house was sold very well.
b. Which operation applies in the derivation of all of these sentences? Derive one sentence.
a.
b.
c.

The lake froze solid.

Glass breaks easily.
The bowl was broken last night.

4. The split VP-hypothesis

4.1 Represent the vP in the following sentences. Assume the Split vP hypothesis. Derive
sentence(1b) and (2b) the following sentences:
(1)

a. He bought the ring secretly.

b. He secretly bought the ring.
c. *He bought secretly the ring.

(2)

a. *Opus sniffed quickly the dandelions.

b. Opus sniffed quickly at the dandelions.
c. Opus gave the book quickly to Rosebud.

4.2 What is the position of manner adverbs in the vP? Consider the examples below. Derive one
sentence.
Tom carefully cut the salami.
Tom cut the salami carefully.
Carefully, Tom cut the salami
4.3 Which of the following two sentences cannot be derived under the ECM analysis of the
Accusative + Infinitive construction? Why?
1)
2)

Mary remembered him clearly to be always complaining about his job.

Mary remembered him to be bald.

4.4 Derive:
They believe him to be dishonest (two derivations)
5.

Syntax of the English Verb: main verbs vs. auxiliary verbs.

5.1 Examine the following sentences. Which of these sentences exhibit v-to- T / T to- C / Affix
Hopping? Why?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Tom should more often have visited Mary.

Tom has often visited Mary
Tom is often cross with Mary
Tom often visits Mary.
Could Tom ever have visited Mary?
5.2 Which verbs are syntactic auxiliaries in English? Represent the following sentence:
Tom should more often have discussed this problem.

5.3 Account for the contrasts in VP ellipsis below under the assumptions of Lasniks hybrid
approach to English Verb Morphology. Give relevant representations.
a. Tom slept one hour and I will, too.
b. *Tom is here and Mary will too.
5.4. Represent the following two sentences under Lasniks hybrid approach:
a.
b.

He called the police last night.

He has called the police last night.