文档介绍：One of the basic premises of the theory of syntax is that clause structures
can be minimally identified as containing a verb phrase, playing the role of
predicate, and a noun phrase, playing the role of subject. In this study
Andrea Moro identifies a new category of copular sentences, namely
inverse copular sentences, where the noun phrase which co-occurs with the
verb phrase plays the role of predicate, occupying the position which is
canonically reserved for subjects, and the subject is embedded in the verb
phrase.
The consequences of such a discovery are pervasive. Four distinct areas
of syntax are unified into a unique natural class. Along with inverse copular
sentences, existential sentences, sentences with seem and usative
constructions are analysed as involving the raising of a predicative noun
phrase to the most prominent position in the clause structure. In addition,
new light is shed on some classical issues such as the distribution and nature
of expletives, locality theory, cliticization phenomena, possessive construc-
tions and the cross-linguistic variations of the Definiteness Effect.
CAMBRIDGE STUDIES IN LINGUISTICS
General Editors: s. R. ANDERSON, J. BRESNAN, B. COMRIE,
W. DRESSLER, C. EWEN, R. HUDDLESTON, R. LASS,
D. LIGHTFOOT, J. LYONS, P. H. MATTHEWS,
R. POSNER, S. ROMAINE, N. V. SMITH, N. VINCENT
The raising of predicates
In this series
58 MONIK CHARETTE: Conditions on phonological government
59 M. H. KLAIMAN: Grammatical voice
60 SARAH M. B. FAGAN: The syntax and semantics of middle constructions: a study with
special reference to German
61 ANJUM P. SALEEMI: Universal Grammar and language learnability
62 STEPHEN R. ANDERSON: A-morphous morphology
63 LESLEY STIRLING: Switch reference and discourse representation
64 HENK J. VERKUYL: A theory of aspectuality: the interaction between temporal and
atemporal structure
65 EVE V. CLARK: The lexicon in acquisition
66 ANTHONY R. WARNER: English auxiliaries: structure an