Installment 12a. Commentary, and the beginning of wh-movement ( ) CAS LX 522 Syntax I

While thinking about syntax Before finishing his homework, Ike watched TV. Before finishing his homework, Ike watched TV. Finish: transitive (Agent, Theme) Finish: transitive (Agent, Theme) Agent: ? Agent: ? Theme: his homework Theme: his homework Watch: transitive (Agent, Theme) Watch: transitive (Agent, Theme) Agent: Ike Agent: Ike Theme: TV Theme: TV Ike watched TV is the main clause. Ike watched TV is the main clause. Before finishing his homework is a modifier. Before finishing his homework is a modifier.

While thinking about syntax Before finishing his homework, Ike watched TV. Before finishing his homework, Ike watched TV. Intuitively, it is Ike who was (at least at risk of) finishing his homework. Intuitively, it is Ike who was (at least at risk of) finishing his homework. We are not going to have any particular explanation for exactly how the interpretation tied to the subject comes about, but it seems to be. We are not going to have any particular explanation for exactly how the interpretation tied to the subject comes about, but it seems to be. Before he finished his homework, Ike watched TV. Before he finished his homework, Ike watched TV.

While PRO thinking about syntax Before PRO finishing his homework, … Before PRO finishing his homework, … This PRO does seem to be controlled by the subject somehow (*While raining, Ike dashed to the store). This PRO does seem to be controlled by the subject somehow (*While raining, Ike dashed to the store). The form finishing is not the progressive, it is the present participle, a nonfinite form. The form finishing is not the progressive, it is the present participle, a nonfinite form.

Before PRO finishing… T is not finite, so no [tense] feature. T is not finite, so no [tense] feature. It is not the infinitive either. It is not the infinitive either. We’ll say this form has the [ing] feature. We’ll say this form has the [ing] feature. The [uInfl:] feature of v is matched, valued, and checked by the [ing] feature, resulting in finishing. The [uInfl:] feature of v is matched, valued, and checked by the [ing] feature, resulting in finishing. T T [ing] TP DP PRO CP C before V finish VP DP his homework v v vPvP v [uInfl:ing]

Before PRO finishing… How does PRO get its case feature checked? How does PRO get its case feature checked? Some relevant sentences: Some relevant sentences: Before he finished his homework, Ike watched TV. Before he finished his homework, Ike watched TV. Before Ike’s finishing of his homework, tension was high. Before Ike’s finishing of his homework, tension was high. T T [ing] TP DP PRO CP C before V finish VP DP his homework v v vPvP v

Before PRO finishing… Given this, the best hypothesis seems to be that the [ing] T also has a [null] feature, checking case with PRO just like finite T checks nominative case with other subjects. Given this, the best hypothesis seems to be that the [ing] T also has a [null] feature, checking case with PRO just like finite T checks nominative case with other subjects. [null] = [ucase:null] [null] = [ucase:null] T T [ing] TP DP PRO CP C before V finish VP DP his homework v v vPvP v

Before PRO finishing… The only thing left is to attach the modifier into the main clause… The only thing left is to attach the modifier into the main clause… T T [past] TP DP Ike TP V watch VP DP TV v v vPvP v T T [ing] TP DP PRO CP C before V finish VP DP his homework v v vPvP v CP ØCØC

Before his cooking of the t(of)urkey, Ike had never opened the oven before.

On gerunds There is yet another form of the verb that shows up with -ing on the end of it in English: the gerund. There is yet another form of the verb that shows up with -ing on the end of it in English: the gerund. A gerund is basically a verb acting as a noun— we’ve been looking at this kind of deverbal noun already. One way to tell whether you are looking at a gerund (noun) or not (a verb) is to see whether it is modified by adjectives or adverbs: A gerund is basically a verb acting as a noun— we’ve been looking at this kind of deverbal noun already. One way to tell whether you are looking at a gerund (noun) or not (a verb) is to see whether it is modified by adjectives or adverbs: Before his quick(*ly) cooking of the t(of)urkey… Before his quick(*ly) cooking of the t(of)urkey… Before quick-*(ly) finishing his homework… Before quick-*(ly) finishing his homework…

Nonverbal predicates Nonverbal predicates Main clauses seem to need a T (and a finite one at that), and in English at least, it seems that we further need a v. Nonverbal predicates Main clauses seem to need a T (and a finite one at that), and in English at least, it seems that we further need a v. However, there are sentences in which the main predicate really isn’t verbal: However, there are sentences in which the main predicate really isn’t verbal: Frankie is a pathologist. Frankie is a pathologist. Boyd is grumpy. Boyd is grumpy. Here the verb be seems to be doing not much more than “gluing” the subject to the predicate. Here the verb be seems to be doing not much more than “gluing” the subject to the predicate.

Nonverbal predicates This is slightly sticky terrain, but as a first hypothesis, suppose that Boyd is grumpy looks like this: This is slightly sticky terrain, but as a first hypothesis, suppose that Boyd is grumpy looks like this: That is, we have an auxiliary Pred, realized as be, that moves to T That is, we have an auxiliary Pred, realized as be, that moves to T its [uInfl:] feature is strong when valued by a [tense] feature. its [uInfl:] feature is strong when valued by a [tense] feature. T T [pres] TP — CP CØCØ AdjP DP Boyd Pred be Adj grumpy PredP

Zoe is likely to stay in Chile

Wh-questions Wh-questions are “information-seeking” questions, involving a wh-word. Wh-questions are “information-seeking” questions, involving a wh-word. Who, what, when, where, why, HoW, which Who, what, when, where, why, HoW, which What will they bake? What will they bake? Observe that what is basically the object of bake. And look how far away it is from bake, the thing that assigns it a  -role. Observe that what is basically the object of bake. And look how far away it is from bake, the thing that assigns it a  -role. Cf also. “echo questions”: I drank WHAT? Cf also. “echo questions”: I drank WHAT? Also, notice that T has moved to C here too (like it does in yes-no questions). Also, notice that T has moved to C here too (like it does in yes-no questions).

[wh] Wh-words are a little bit like pronouns, standing in for whatever category of thing we’d like information about. Wh-words are a little bit like pronouns, standing in for whatever category of thing we’d like information about. These interrogative expressions are different from non-interrogative pronouns and demonstratives. These interrogative expressions are different from non-interrogative pronouns and demonstratives. *That will they bake. *That will they bake. What, where, when are differentiated from that, there, then in being interrogative. This is a feature of the wh-word: [wh]. What, where, when are differentiated from that, there, then in being interrogative. This is a feature of the wh-word: [wh].

[wh] A wh-word has the same category as its non-wh- counterpart—therefore, wh-words come in several different categories. A wh-word has the same category as its non-wh- counterpart—therefore, wh-words come in several different categories. What[wh, D] What[wh, D] Who[wh, D, human] Who[wh, D, human] When[wh, Adv, temporal] When[wh, Adv, temporal] Where[wh, Adv, locational] Where[wh, Adv, locational] How[wh, Adv, manner] How[wh, Adv, manner] Why[wh, Adv, reason] Why[wh, Adv, reason] Which[wh, D, uN*] Which[wh, D, uN*]

How are wh-questions formed? What we have in English wh-questions is like a limited form of V2. What we have in English wh-questions is like a limited form of V2. The analysis of wh-questions is the same: The analysis of wh-questions is the same: The T head moves to C The T head moves to C The wh-expression moves to SpecCP The wh-expression moves to SpecCP Let’s suppose that the reason/mechanism moving T to C is the same as in yes-no questions: We have an interrogative C, with [clause-type:Q]. When the [uclause-type:] feature of T is valued by [Q], it is strong. Let’s suppose that the reason/mechanism moving T to C is the same as in yes-no questions: We have an interrogative C, with [clause-type:Q]. When the [uclause-type:] feature of T is valued by [Q], it is strong.

What will they bake? To start out, we have a vP and TP as usual. The only unusual thing so far is that we have a wh-object what. To start out, we have a vP and TP as usual. The only unusual thing so far is that we have a wh-object what. VP v T v v V bake TPTP DP they T will [uclause-type:] DP what [wh] vPvP

What will they bake? The complementizer C has the information about clause-type, and this is a question. As before with yes-no questions, we assume that this C has the feature [clause-type:Q] (or “[Q]” for short). The complementizer C has the information about clause-type, and this is a question. As before with yes-no questions, we assume that this C has the feature [clause-type:Q] (or “[Q]” for short). As with yes-no questions, the [uclause-type:] feature of T is strong when valued by Q. As with yes-no questions, the [uclause-type:] feature of T is strong when valued by Q. VP v T v v V bake TPTP C DP they C [Q] T will [uclause-type:] DP what [wh] vPvP

What will they bake? As for how what winds up at the beginning of the sentence, we will treat this essentially like we treated German V2. As for how what winds up at the beginning of the sentence, we will treat this essentially like we treated German V2. In a wh-question, C has a [uwh*] feature. In a wh-question, C has a [uwh*] feature. This forces what to move into SpecCP to check the feature. This forces what to move into SpecCP to check the feature. VP v T v v V bake TPTP C DP they C [Q, uwh*] T will [uclause-type:] DP what [wh] vPvP

What will they bake? What moves to SpecCP and checks the [uwh*] feature of C. What moves to SpecCP and checks the [uwh*] feature of C. T moves to C to check the (now strong) [uclausetype:Q* ] feature. T moves to C to check the (now strong) [uclausetype:Q* ] feature. (Not pictured here) (Not pictured here) VP v T v v V bake TPTP C DP they C [Q, uwh*] T will [uclause-type:] vPvP CPCP DP what [wh]

Interrogative Q vs. Declarative Q Looking at wh-questions as compared to yes-no questions, it looks as if there are two kinds of interrogative C: Looking at wh-questions as compared to yes-no questions, it looks as if there are two kinds of interrogative C: “yes-no” C:[C, clause-type:Q] “yes-no” C:[C, clause-type:Q] wh-question C:[C, clause-type:Q, uwh*] wh-question C:[C, clause-type:Q, uwh*] This is in fact often supposed in the syntax literature— and many languages seem to have a special particle reserved for yes-no questions (e.g., English if, Mandarin ma) This is in fact often supposed in the syntax literature— and many languages seem to have a special particle reserved for yes-no questions (e.g., English if, Mandarin ma) Adger notes a problem, however: Nothing in our system so far prevents us from using a yes-no C with a wh-word, predicting: Adger notes a problem, however: Nothing in our system so far prevents us from using a yes-no C with a wh-word, predicting: Will they bake what? Will they bake what?

Op Accordingly, Adger proposes that there’s a wh- word even in “yes-no questions”. Accordingly, Adger proposes that there’s a wh- word even in “yes-no questions”. There are actually other reasons to think this as well, but we’ll get to them later. There are actually other reasons to think this as well, but we’ll get to them later. That is Will they bake cookies? is actually something pretty close to: Whether will they bake cookies? except with a “silent” whether, called Op. That is Will they bake cookies? is actually something pretty close to: Whether will they bake cookies? except with a “silent” whether, called Op.

Will they bake pie? Op appears in yes-no questions in the same place that wh-words do in wh- questions (and we assume it has a [wh] feature as well). Op appears in yes-no questions in the same place that wh-words do in wh- questions (and we assume it has a [wh] feature as well). Op is probably like a “silent” whether (wh+either). Op is probably like a “silent” whether (wh+either). VP v T v v V bake TPTP C DP they C [Q, uwh*] T will [uclause-type:] DP pie vPvP CPCP DP Op [wh]

Homework 9 additions Draw a structure for: Draw a structure for: The students are likely to know what they will bake. The students are likely to know what they will bake. What has Pat been sending to Chris? What has Pat been sending to Chris?

                      