The argument structure of evaluative adjectives
A case of pseudo-raising
Evaluative adjectives permit an alternation between two control structures: a canonical subject control structure, where a matrix subject serves as the controller for an unexpressed subject argument in an embedded infinitival clause, and a sentential subject structure, where the controller surfaces as a genitive-marked argument of the adjective. These structures both instantiate an obligatory control interpretation, despite the non-local control configuration of the latter. A syntactic analysis demonstrates that the subject control structure projects control into an adjunct clause, and the source of the alternation, as well as various apparent raising-like behaviors, is attributed to the relatively simple argument structure of evaluative adjectives as compared to other more complex adjectives and their related forms.
Cited by (2)
Cited by two other publications
Gotowski, Megan & Kristen Syrett
2024.
Using syntax and semantics to acquire subjective adjective meanings.
Language Acquisition ► pp. 1 ff.
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