The Category P Features, Projections, Interpretation

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These approaches do depart from the uniform lexical view, as they introduce an
explicit assumption that among Ps there can also be functional, non-theta-assigning Ps
(Van Riemsdijk 1990, 1998). The proposed division of Ps seems to be motivated
mainly by semantic contentfulness of individual Ps (Ps analyzed as functional by Van
Riemsdijk, are referred to explicitly as ‘not contentful’ in Emonds 1985).
Given the split between ‘semi-lexical’ (theta-assigning) and functional (nontheta-assigning)
Ps, the ability of only a subset of Ps (i.e. the ‘semi-lexical’ Ps) to
occur as predicates (7) is expected. It is also not surprising that prepositional Case is
not always inherent (theta-related). Only the theta-assigning ‘semi-lexical’ Ps can be
inherent Case-assigners, the Case assigned by functional Ps cannot be inherent as the
latter are not theta-assigners (10).
The lexical/functional division seems to be further supported by the distribution
of PPs. For instance, since a ‘semi-lexical’ P is viewed as a theta-assigner, namely a
predicate, the lexical projection of such a P (PP), similarly to the lexical projection of
a V (VP) or an N (NP), is predicted not to receive a theta-role (cf. Van Riemsdijk
1998). 9 This prediction is born out in examples such as (12), where the temporal and
locative PPs are adjuncts, standardly assumed not to be assigned a theta-role.
(12) a. Before the war, life was much better. ((57) in Van Riemsdijk 1998)
b. Bart found a coin in the garden.
Even the problematic construction in (11), repeated in (13), seems to receive a
natural account. On the assumption that the preposition in in (13) is a functional nontheta-assigning
head, the PP headed by in in (13) is not a predicate, but rather a
functional extension of its DP complement. Consequently, this PP can be assigned a
theta-role by the verb (note that some additional mechanism which ensures that the
theta-role assigned to the PP is transmitted to the embedded DP is still needed).
(13) Homer believed in his intuition.
9 The addition of the term ‘lexical’ (projection) is meant to distinguish between the predicative phrases
projected by theta-assigning heads such as V and N (i.e. VP and NP), and the corresponding
argumental ones (i.e. CP and DP, respectively). Only the latter are standardly assumed to be assigned a
theta-role.