goal arguments in the double-object construction as specifiers
the passive -en morpheme in the head of vP
the aspectual morphemes -en and -ing in the head of vP
the tense morpheme in the head of vP
linguistics: the scientific study of language.
Locality Restrictions on Movement: a head cannot move over the top of another
head, a subject cannot move over the top of another subject – a
constituent cannot move over the top of a like constituent. See also
Relativized Minimality.
Locality Restriction on Theta-role Assignment: a predicate assigns its -roles
to either its complement or its specifier.
locative inversion: a structure where a PP locative argument apparently sits in
subject position while the DP theme sits behind the verb, as in In the
corner sat a shadowy figure.
main clause: a clause that is not embedded in another clause. In the sentence I
know that you are clever the main clause is I know selecting an embedded
CP.
mass noun: a noun that does not show number distinction, e.g. tea/a cup of tea. See
also partitive construction.
matrix clause: very often used as a synonym for main clause. However, in the case
of multiple embeddings there is a difference between the two. In the
sentence I know that she thinks she is hopeless the main clause is I know,
which also functions as the matrix clause for the first embedding that she
thinks she is hopeless. The matrix clause for she is hopeless is the clause
selecting it that she thinks, but it is not a main clause.
maximal projection: the phrase-level projection, XP, where X is a categorial
variable.
measure noun: a non-thematic, non-functional noun indicating quantity, e.g. loaf in a
loaf of bread.
missing subject: in terms of the EPP every clause must have a subject, so clauses
cannot have a missing subject. In certain structures it seems to be the case,
however, it can be argued that these clauses only have a missing visible
subject, there is an abstract element occupying the subject position in
these clauses as well, either in the form of a trace or PRO.
modal auxiliary verb: an auxiliary verb expressing modal meanings like necessity,
possibility, permission, e.g. may, should, can, will, etc.. They are always
finite so they occupy the head position of IP and take vP or VP
complements.
module: GB is made up of different but interacting components called modules,
e.g. Theta Theory, X-bar Theory, Case Theory. The interaction of
these modules generates the grammatical structures of language.
morpheme: the smallest meaningful unit. Words can be made up of one or more
morphemes. See also bound morpheme, free morpheme.
