Two Properties of the Intransitive Resultative Construction

Abstract

This paper argues that the intransitive resultative construction requires head-movement of the secondary predicate to the main predicate in order to assign the theta-role to the postverbal NP in LF. Then, this construction is taken as an instance in which theta role assignment is derivational. This supports Bowers, 1993; Chomsky, 1993, 1995; Larson, 1988, among others. The analysis presented in this paper then leads to the conclusion that D-structure and S-structure, if they exist, do not play any crucial role with respect to theta-role assignment and the Projection Principle, cannot be maintained as stated in Chomsky, 1981. What is required is that all theta-relations must be established by LF.