1. :
2018

2. Syntax: A First Encounter
Marcel den Dikken
Department of English Linguistics
ELTE

3. Question Formation → SAFEty First
• on top of the v–VP core of the structure of the clause,
syntax first introduces a projection of the functional head
I, called IP, above which an additional functional projec-
tion can be erected, headed by the functional head C
• the head C can be spelled out by complementisers – for
English, the infinitival complementiser for, and the two
finite complementisers that and if
• the head of CP often remains silent, and C frequently
forgoes a specifier as well – although there is one phrasal
element that can be directly inserted in SpecCP: whether
• the fact that C and SpecCP are often not utilised via
direct insertion of material in the initial structure makes
these positions useful receptacles for material that needs
to undergo movement into the CP domain – up next!

4. Question Formation I wonder [why/when/how often] he told me the truth
SAFE 10
Question Formation
I wonder [why/when/how often] he told me the truth
SpecCP comes in handy for phrases which, like whether, begin with wh- and introduce a question, but which are not directly inserted into SpecCP CP
Spec C' C IP Ø
DPi I'
so-called wh-phrases he I vP
-ed
ti tell me the truth

5. Question Formation I wonder [why/when/how often] he told me the truth
SAFE 10
Question Formation
I wonder [why/when/how often] he told me the truth
for whether, we assumed that it
is born in SpecCP — it does not
bind a trace lower down the tree CP
Spec C'
what about these other wh-elements?
let us focus on
how often C IP
how often must
clearly bind a trace Ø
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
ti tell me the truth

6. Question Formation I wonder [how often] he told me the truth t
SAFE 10
Question Formation
I wonder [how often] he told me the truth t
I think he [very often] told me the truth CP
Spec C'
what about these other wh-elements?
let us focus on
how often C IP
how often must
clearly bind a trace Ø
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
ti tell me the truth

7. Question Formation I wonder [how often] he told me the truth t
SAFE 10
Question Formation
I wonder [how often] he told me the truth t
I think he [very often] told me the truth CP
how oftenj C'
an adjunct to vP C IP Ø
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
tj ti tell me the truth

8. Question Formation I wonder [what] he told me t
SAFE 10
Question Formation
I wonder [what] he told me t
I think he told me [the truth] CP
the need for a trace is of course even
clearer when the wh-phrase serves as
an argument of the verb
Spec C' C IP Ø
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
ti tell me the truth

9. Question Formation I wonder [what] he told me t
SAFE 10
Question Formation
I wonder [what] he told me t
I think he told me [the truth] CP
the Projection Principle demands that
the direct object position of tell, which
tell assigns the Theme θ-role to, must
be occupied at all levels of syntax
whatk C'
Projection Principle
structures are projected
from the lexicon
at all levels C IP Ø
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
ti tell me tk

10. Question Formation I wonder [what] he told me t
SAFE 10
Question Formation
I wonder [what] he told me t
I think he told me [the truth] CP
the trace not only helps us comply with the Projection Principle, it also allows the chain (whatk, tk) to satisfy the Case Filter
whatk C' C IP Ø
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
ti tell me tk

11. Question Formation [what] did he tell me ? t he told me [the truth] CP
SAFE 10
Question Formation
[what] did he tell me ? t
he told me [the truth] CP
wh-questions are not always embedded under verbs like wonder:
they can also occur as main clauses
whatk C' C IP
DPi I' he
now C cannot
remain empty I vP
-ed
ti tell me tk

12. Question Formation * [what] did he tell me ? t he told me [the truth]
SAFE 10
Question Formation
[what] did he tell me ? t
he told me [the truth]
I must raise to C, giving rise to ‘subject-auxiliary inversion’ — so called because only auxiliaries can undergo I-to-C CP
whatk C' C IP *
what told he me t?
what has he told me t?
what will he tell me t?
DPi I' he
now C cannot
remain empty I vP
-ed
ti tell me tk

13. when I does not raise to C, I can merge with v+V under adjacency
SAFE 10
Question Formation
[what] did he tell me ? t
he told me [the truth]
whenever there is no finite auxiliary in the sentence, the services of the dummy auxiliary do are called upon CP
whatk C' C IP *
what told he me t?
what has he told me t?
what will he tell me t?
when I does not raise to C, I can merge with v+V under adjacency
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
ti tell me tk

14. Question Formation [what] did he tell me ? t he told me [the truth] CP
SAFE 10
Question Formation
[what] did he tell me ? t
he told me [the truth]
whenever there is no finite auxiliary in the sentence, the services of the dummy auxiliary do are called upon CP
whatk C' C IP
but when I raises to C, merger with v+V fails; I is spelled out as do+-ed
DPi I' he I vP
-ed
ti tell me tk

15. Question Formation [what] did he tell me ? t he told me [the truth] CP
SAFE 10
Question Formation
[what] did he tell me ? t
he told me [the truth]
note that I adjoins to C rather than being substituted for C: C in interrogatives is not totally empty; it has the feature [Q], for ‘question’ CP
whatk C' C IP In C
DPi I'
did
[Q] he I vP
we can treat [Q] as a bound
morpheme and use this as
the trigger for I-to-C movement tn
ti tell me tk

16. Question Formation did he tell me the truth?
SAFE 10
Question Formation
did he tell me the truth?
(yes,) he told me the truth
for so-called yes–no questions, we can now use the same analysis CP ?? C' C IP
plausibly, SpecCP is occupied by a null operator (Op) In C
DPi I'
did
[Q] he I vP
we can treat [Q] as a bound
morpheme and use this as
the trigger for I-to-C movement tn
ti tell me the truth

17. Question Formation did he tell me the truth?
SAFE 10
Question Formation
did he tell me the truth?
(yes,) he told me the truth
… the silent counterpart to whether! CP Op C' C IP
plausibly, SpecCP is occupied by a null operator (Op) Ik C
DPi I'
did
[Q] he I vP tn
ti tell me the truth

18. plausibly, SpecCP is occupied by a null operator (Op)
SAFE 10
Question Formation
• we can use null operators profitably in a range of other
constructions as well, including relative clauses that don’t
have an overt wh-operator — the man (that) she kissed CP Op C' C IP
plausibly, SpecCP is occupied by a null operator (Op) Ik C
DPi I'
did
[Q] he I vP tn
ti tell me the truth

19. SAFE Deposits → our SAFE Deposit Box is ready for an update
• the specifier position of CP is not just the place for direct
insertion of whether, but also serves as the landing-site
for movement of wh-phrases – phrases starting with wh-
and introducing constituent questions or relative clauses
• wh-phrases that serve as arguments or modifiers inside
the clause must leave a trace behind when moving to
SpecCP in order to preserve their connection with their
θ-role assigner or modifiee
• the head of CP can also serve as the landing-site for
movement – this time of the finite auxiliaries that invert
with the subject in the formation of root questions
• the C-head of questions is occupied by the morpheme
[Q], whose bound nature is the trigger for I-to-C mov’t
• in root yes/no-questions, SpecCP hosts a null operator

20. Syntax: A First Encounter
Marcel den Dikken
Department of English Linguistics
ELTE

21. :
2018