VP SHELLS: an inner VP core and an outer vp shell.

The agent originates within

the outer vp shell.
1) Ergative Predicates (367-70): they are three place predicates which can be used
transitively or intransitively. The TV has an intransitive counterpart. (9.2) T or I
The ball rolled t down the hill
We rolled the ball down the hill
The light verb is an abstract (null), causative, affixal verb (so a strong head) which
has an agentive subject. The verb roll rises to adjoin to it.
2) Predicates with two complements which cannot be used intransitively (375-6):
They loaded the truck with hay (9.3) No I
use
3) Double object structures (377-8) They gave John a present (9.4)
BiTVerbs
4) Resultative predicates (378-9) They painted the door green
5) Threeplace predicates with clausalcomplements(379-81)(9.5)Clausal
Complements
He remarked to her that the Senator was a fraud
She suggested to him that they should study syntax
You must satisfy the jury that you are innocent
6) Object control predicates: the controller of PRO is always a subject (382-7) (9.6)
What decided you (to PRO take syntax) (You decided PRO to take syntax)
7) Simple transitive (or monotransitive) structures: the null agentive light verb has
a performative sense: he did book-reading. he performed the action of reading a
book. UTAH. (388-90)
(9.7)
He read the book. He played the record. He read me a letter.
8) Unergative predicates: they appear to have no complement (to complain, groan,
laugh, yawn, salute, wave, apologize). Like TVs, the subject originates as specifier
of vp. (390-2)
(9.8)
He was fishing (he was catching fish)
He was lunching (having lunch)
He was lying (telling lies) He lied to you ← He told a lie to you t t
They were partying (having a party) ↑___┴-_-_-_-|--┴
9) Unaccusative (expletive) verbs: postverbal position of the subject, auxiliary
selection, adjectival use of perfective participle forms, en cliticization in italian, bare
nominals in Spanish). (Belletti, 1988, subjects carry partitive case). (392-400)
(9.9)
There arose a problem in the negotiations
There came a cry of anguish from inside the house
There appeared a ghostly face at the window
There could have occurred a diplomatic incident
There stands a statue of General Ghouly in front of the house

Alison Henry (1995) Dialect A of Belfast English (postverbal imperative subjects)

Be going you out of the door when he arrives!
Leave you now!
Arrive you before 6 o’clock!
Go you to school!
Run youse to the telephone!
Walk you into the garden!

1
He is come with me
Is the duke gone? Then is your cause gone too
How chance thou art returned so soon
She is fallen into a pit of ink
You sahll hear I am run away

The train arrived at plaform 4 is ...

A man recently returned from Thailand
Several facts recently come to light
A number of objects gone from thechurch
OJ is something of a fallen man
The woman arrested
A changed man
A battered wife

Burzio (1986): the subjects of unaccusative verbs originate as their complements. Light verb
analysis: VPs canonically contain an outer vp shell headed by a strong (light) verb and an inner
VP core headed by a lexical verb and lexical verbs always rise from V to v.

Prof. Aldo Omar Blanco, 2004.