LINB06H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Theta Role, Ditransitive Verb, Intransitive Verb
Document Summary
There is a significant problem with x-bar theory; it also generates sentences that are not acceptable. Sentence 1b) should be acceptable as the x-bar theory says that complement is optional. Compare to rosemary ran: direct objects, which are complements, should always be optional. The opposite is seen in 2: x-bar theory optionally allows a complement. Having a direct object here should be fine too. In 3) where both the direct object and indirect object are obligatory- contra x-bar theory: some basic terminology. An intransitive verb like leave takes a single dp, which is the subject. A transitive verb such hit takes a dp subject and a dp object. We also find semantic restrictions on what can appear in particular position: co(cid:373)(cid:271) (cid:272)a(cid:374)(cid:859)t hate a(cid:374)(cid:455)thi(cid:374)g a(cid:374)d (cid:396)o(cid:272)k (cid:272)a(cid:374)(cid:859)t (cid:271)e killed, these semantic criteria are called selectional restriction, thematic relations and theta roles.
