1. Lecture 7 Krisztina Szécsényi
Syntax
Lecture 7
Krisztina Szécsényi

2. Light verbs
Peter put the book on the shelf. Peter made the door open. → light verb (=vP) needed on top of VP Related constructions: Peter opened the door. The door opened.

3. Light verbs and two-argument verbs
Underlying assumptions: Similar meaning → similar structure Syntax-semantics interface Simple event → simple structure Complex event (e.g. causation) → complex structure → similar structures for Peter made the door open and Peter opened the door.

4. Light verbs and one-argument verbs
The door opened. The train arrived. The actor died. Similar on the surface, but different syntactic behaviour.

5. Light verbs and one-argument verbs
The door opened
*The door opened a creaky opening.
*There opened a door.
The train arrived.
*The train arrived a fast arrival.
There arrived a train.
The actor died
The actor died a terrible death.
*There died an actor.

6. Light verbs and one-argument verbs
Different structures? UTAH (Uniform Theta-Role Assignment Hypothesis): a θ-role is assigned in the same structural configuration in all structures in which it is present. Projection Principle: structures are projected from the lexicon at all levels.

7. Light verbs and one-argument verbs
Different θ-roles → different structures arrive, openshort: theme subject die: experiencer subject (vP needed) Cognate object appears only when there is an empty theme position in the structure.