1. Mothers are proud of their sons.

EPP= in the final statement the final position must be filled

EPP=every finite tense is a EPP feature

TP

NP TP => T'

Mothers
T AP

are
[EPP] NP A’

Experiencer Mothers
Stimulus
A PP

proud of their sons

[uN] Stimulus
[uN] Experiencer

Tense has a EPP feature, which is semantically uninterpretable, there for it has to be
cancelled via feature-checking.

EPP(final law): T has to merge in specifier position with the copy of it’s closest nominal from it’s c-command
domain
 The 2 mothers use the same index to show that the 2 are the same

TP

Copy! + Merge! = Move!

NP i T’

Mothers
T AP

are
[EPP] NP A’

Experiencer Mothers
A PP Stimulus

proud of their sons

[uN] Experiencer
[uN] Stimulus

PF: phonological form

-> apply precedence, and then, delete pronunciation of the second equivalent item in linear order

LF: logical form

-> create a logical chain between the item that preserves pronunciation and it’s equivalent that had
it’s pronunciation deleted
 has = is the element that exposes tense!
2. Jane has borrowed this book recently.
PF: apply precedence and then delete pronunciation of the second equivalent item in linear order

2nd = loses it’s pronunciation

1st = doesn’t
TP

NP k TP T’

Jane
T VP

has
[EPP] VP AdvP
copy, move =
the closest one!

recently
NP tk V’

Agent
Jane
V DP Theme

eliminate
borrowed this book

[uN] Agent
[uN] Theme

LF: -> create a logical chain between the item that preserves pronunciation and it’s equivalent that had it’s
pronunciation deleted
Tense auxiliary and the lexical verb

3. John gave the book by Chomsky to Maria yestarday.

TP

NP k TP T’

John
T VP

gave i
[EPP]
VP AdjP

NP tk V’ yestarday
Agent

John V’ PP
Beneficiary

V DP
to Maria
LF
Theme
:
PF: gave -> ti
the book by Chomsky

[uN] Agent
[uN] Theme
[uN] Beneficiary
[T]
 ed is tense

4. John showed the book by Chomsky to Maria yestarday.

TP

NP k TP T’

John
T VP

show i - ed
[EPP]

VP AdvP

NP V’
tk yestarday
Agent
LF:
PF: John

V’ PP
Beneficiary

V DP to Maria

show ti the book by Chomsky Theme

[uN] Agent
[uN] Theme
[uN] Beneficiary
[T]