Chapter 7 - Complementiser PhrasesIn (2a) the clausal complement of the verb know has obviously moved from its normal
complement position behind the verb to a position at the front of the sentence. As the
complementiser still precedes this clause, it can be assumed to form a constituent with
it. In (2b) the pronoun it is used to replace the clause that Stan saved the world. As this
includes both the complementiser and the IP, we conclude that these must form a
constituent. Finally, in (2c) two clauses are coordinated. That both clauses begin with a
complementiser demonstrates that the complementiser forms a constituent with the
following IP.
That the complementiser is not inside the IP itself can be demonstrated by the fact
that it is possible to pronominalise the IP without the complementiser and we can
coordinate two IPs separate from the complementiser:
(3) a we expect there to be trouble, but we are not hoping for it
b I wondered if there would be trouble and I could be involved
The first case in (3) is fairly straightforward. The it replaces the non-finite clause there
to be trouble and given that the complementiser precedes the it the pronoun replaces
just the IP. The second case needs a little explanation. What is coordinated here are the
two IPs there would be trouble and I could be involved. In some clauses the
complementiser does not have to appear overtly, however:
(4) I think (that) his eyes were blue
One possible analysis, which we will argue in favour of a little later, is that when
there is no overt complementiser, there is an phonologically empty complementiser.
This possibility then raises the question of what is being coordinated in (2b): is it just
the IP, as we claimed, or an IP with an empty complementiser?:
(5) a if [there would be trouble] and [I could be involved]
b [if there would be trouble] and [e I could be involved]
In the second case, the data obviously do not support the claim that the IP can be
coordinated without the complementiser as both sides of the coordination contain
complementisers. However, (5b) cannot be the correct analysis as the only
complementiser that is allowed to be empty in this kind of situation is that and if
cannot be omitted:
(6) a I think (that) his eyes were blue
b I wondered *(if) his eyes were blue
Thus, (5b) would only be possible if the empty complementiser were a version of that.
But this is not possible as, in this case, a clause beginning with if cannot coordinate
with a clause beginning with that:
(7) *I wondered [if there would be trouble] and [that I could be involved]
Thus, the only viable analysis is (5a).
The final outcome of this discussion, then, is that the structure of the clause is:
(8) XP
C IP