Syntax 1 Wiki: Week 7

Topicalization and Wh-movement

(1)
a. Kim likes Robin.
b. Robin, Kim likes __.

(2)
a. Kim depends on Robin.
b. Robin, Kim depends on __.

(3)
a. Kim depends on Robin.
b. On Robin, Kim depends __.

(4)
a. Kim is fond of Robin.
b. Robin, Kim is fond of __.

(5)
a. Kim showed me a picture of Robin.
b. Robin, Kim showed me a picture of __.

(6)
a. Kim said I like Robin.
b. Robin, Kim said I like __.

(7)
a. Kim said I claimed she likes Robin.
b. Robin, Kim said I claimed she likes __.

Because preposing can in principle span arbitrarily many clauses, it is one example of a long distance dependency!

(8) * Robin, Kim smokes __.
(9) * To Robin, Kim likes __.
(10) * She, Kim likes __.
(11) * To Robin, Kim depends __.
(12) * Robin, Kim claims __ am sad.

Generalization:
An expression can be preposed from a position P if and only if it can also occur in position P itself!

Webelhuth