Basic English Grammar with Exercises

Suggested Answers and Hints - Chapter 8

In (1c) want is a two-place predicate. It takes an agent and a propositional argument. The
agent has its base position in the specifier of the vP and it moves to the specifier of the IP
in order to get nominative Case from the finite I head. The proposition is a CP, which
occupies the specifier of the VP. This is a Case position, the light verb in v can assign ac-
cusative Case to this position. Since sentences avoid Case positions, it moves rightwards
and adjoins to the VP. The main verb pass selects for two arguments: an agent and a
theme. The theme DP the exam receives Case from the light verb in its base position.
The agent DP occupies the specifier of the vP in the D-structure. This DP is coreferential
with the students but it cannot be the trace of that DP since they both receive a separate
thematic role from one of the main verbs. Thus the agent DP in the lower clause is not
the trace of the students but it is a PRO, taking an independent thematic role.

(5) CP

C'

C IP

DP 1 I'

the students I vP

wanted 2 v'

CP 3 v vP

C' t 2 t 1 v'

C IP v VP

PRO 4 I' t 2 VP

I vP t 3 V'

v' V

v vP t 2

to t 4 v'

v VP

pass 5 +e DP V'

the exam V

t 5