Chapter 5 - Verb Phrasesthe subject, which as we have maintained throughout this chapter starts off inside the
VP, but moves to the nominative position somewhere higher in the clause. We will
consider issues such as this in the following two chapters when we discuss clause
structure in more detail.Check Questions
1 Explain the notions ‘event structure’ and ‘aspect’.
2 Compare unaccusatives with ergative and intransitive verbs. Consider the event
structure of the verbs, their complementation, the position and theta roles assigned to
the complements, the ability to appear in causative and/or passive contexts, diagnostics
for telling them apart, and further properties.
3 Consider the specifier position in a projection headed by a light verb and a
thematic verb. How can it be argued that the two specifier positions are assigned
different theta roles?
4 What evidence is available to support the assumption that there is an empty
light verb in the transitive counterpart of a light verb+unaccusative verb structure?
5 How is passive conceptualised in the text?
6 What assumption(s) provides a way out of the problem(s) that both agent and
experiencer arguments occupy [Spec, vP] at D-Structure? What other evidence is
available to support the existence of multiple light verb constructions?
7 What is the analysis proposed for multiple complement constructions
developed in the text?
8 What arguments are put forward against the assumption that clausal
complements occupy the [Spec, VP] position?
9 On the basis of the text make a list of verb-types identified.Test your knowledge
Exercise 1
Identify instances of a semantically contentless ‘there’ and ‘it’ in the sentences below.
(1) a There was a man at the door.
b He put the book there.
c The apples are there.
d There is no reason to fight.
e It took them two hours to get there.
f It appears to be out of order.
g It appears that he got lost.
h I take it that the answer is ‘no’.
i There are no policemen there.
j He had a hard time of it in the army.