The Category P Features, Projections, Interpretation

189
.
adjectival passive formation (Levin and Rappaport 1986). Marelj (2002, 2004) argues
that the internal theta-role of the verb is externalized in languages that form middle
verbs in the lexicon (e.g. English, Dutch), rather than in syntax (e.g. French, Italian).
Let us examine what underlies externalization of the internal theta-role of the
e-N upon the addition of le-. In other words, what exactly the addition of le- does.
Based on Siloni (1997), Genitive Case in Hebrew is either inherent, assigned by
šel (‘of’) (FS), or structural (CS) (33a). It is checked by, or assigned to, the Agent or
the Theme (if the Agent is not realized). If the Agent is realized (Genitive), the noun
can also check Accusative of the Theme (33b):
(33) a. ha-harisa šel ha-ir/ harisat ha-ir
the-destruction of the-city/ destruction-CS the-city
b. ha-harisa šel ha-cava et ha-ir/ harisat ha-cava et ha-ir
the-destruction of the-army Acc the-city/destruction-CS the-army Acc the-city
Now, note that externalization (30) targets only to the Theme argument of the
nominal, a Goal argument, for instance, is never externalized:
(34) a. matanot kalot le-xaluka le-yeladim
presents [are] easy to-distribution to-children
b. *yeladim kalim le-xaluka šel matanot
children easy to-distribution of presents
Intended meaning: “Children are easy to give presents to.”
This is reminiscent of passive. In rough lines, Hebrew direct objects (e.g. a
Theme) can undergo passivization, but the oblique ones introduced by P cannot:
(35) a. matanot xulku le-yeladim
presents [were] distributed to-children
b. *le-yeladim/yeladim xulku matanot
to-children/children [were] distributed presents