Basic English Syntax with Exercises

Suggested answer for Exercise 4

Raising

The verb seem is a raising verb, which means that it has only one clausal complement, its subject position is empty. If the clausal complement is an infinitival one, the subject of the embedded clause cannot be assigned Case either by the Inflection of the clause (since it is non-finite) or the verb seem (Burzio's generalization). For this reason the movement of the subject of the infinitival clause to a Case position is obligatory. The verb seem, as usual, moves from V to tense v and from that position further on to I. As discussed in the text to is also a tense v element as it can be preceded by not.