3.2.2.1 D-structure and Theta Theory

3.2.2.2 S-structure and Case Theory

Let us review what we have said so far. We started with the observation that the position that a DP occupies at S-structure determines its Case. We then claimed that Case is something applicable to all DPs and finally we proposed a general condition to the effect that all DPs must receive Case. But putting all this together it is obvious that the Case Filter can only operate at S-structure as, as we have seen, D-structure positions are in general irrelevant for determining the Case of an element. Consider the possibility that all the grammatical principles involved with Case and its assignment are bundled together in a single Case theory, paralleling Theta Theory discussed above. Case theory then applies to S-structure:

3.2.2.2 S-structure and Case Theory

While Theta theory accounts for the distribution of arguments at D-structure, it is the principles of Case theory that account for the distribution of DP arguments at S-structure.

3.2.2.2 S-structure and Case Theory

We are now in a position to be able to understand at least certain aspects of movement. Suppose that the principles of Theta theory determine that a DP argument must sit in position X. Suppose further that position X is not a position to which Case is assigned. If the DP remains in this position at S-structure, then the Case filter will be violated and the structure will be deemed ungrammatical. If on the other hand the DP can move to a position to which Case is assigned, then the movement will enable the Case Filter to be satisfied and the structure to be grammatical. This kind of movement might be said to be Case motivated and as we shall see, there are quite a few movements which follow this pattern. This is not the only motivation for movements, however, though we will not go into others at this point. The purpose of this section has been mainly to demonstrate how the interaction of grammatical principles applying at D-structure and S-structure can provide us with an understanding of movement phenomena.

Chapter5 Verb Phrases

The principles of Theta Theory introduced in chapter 2 will play a large part in determining the structure of the VP, alongside those of X-bar theory. In particular we will be guided by the Uniform Theta-role Assignment Hypothesis (UTAH), which as we explained in chapter 2 assumes that specific Θ-roles are assigned to similar positions in all structures. Thus, if we find evidence that a particular Θ-role, theme for example, is assigned to a particular position in one structure, then by the UTAH we should assume that it is assigned to this position in all structures where it is found. In many ways this is a very simple theory, but it does lead to the assumption of somewhat more abstract structures than might have been guessed at prior to analysis. However, we will demonstrate that the more abstract structures have quite a few advantages over what might at first seem to be more straightforward analyses and these advantages can be used to independently motivate the analyses and thus support the assumption of the UTAH. We will start our discussion with the simpler cases and work our way to the more complex ones, though this order of presentation might not be the usual one we find in grammar books.