Extraposition from Subject and Locative Syntax

초록

This paper investigates the properties of extraposition from subject in English at the syntax-lexicon and syntax-discourse interfaces. The attested presence of counterexamples (from unergative and transitive verbs) for the standard unaccsuative restriction led to the abandonment of a syntactic analysis of the construction and of its unaccusativity diagnostic status. It is argued, however, that the existence of counterexamples does not preclude a syntactic/semantic analysis in favor of a discourse/functional approach. This paper shows that it is locative syntax that encompasses various types of verbs allowed in the construction and makes discourse requirements on the construction to be met.

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