Prace komisji nauk.pdf - Instytut Filologii Angielskiej Uniwersytetu ...

Adjective Phrases can function as complements and adjuncts. The adjective phrase
(16) is a part of a verb phrase and exists there as a complement in a larger structure,
as schematically shown below:
The first issue to be considered, is however the position of the specifier of VP in
(18), which cannot be filled by a noun phrase. Other arguments cannot be placed in
the position of specifier because their presence would cause Theta Criterion
violation. In other word the number of arguments must not exceed the number of
available theta roles.
There is one more reason why we cannot fill the position of specifier in verb
phrase with a noun phrase. According to the Structure Preserving Constraint the
element should move to the first available position. In example (19) this is an
empty specifier position of the verb phrase. Then it moves to the specifier position
of the IP.
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