ON THE STRUCTURE OF PREDICATE NP1
Anders R Holmberg · Studia Linguistica · 1993
Abstract. The central hypothesis in this paper is that a predicate NP is a maximal projection which is an open expression, meaning that it has an A‐trace in its highest spec‐position functioning as a predicate variable, while an argument NP is a closed expression, meaning that it has the head of an A‐chain, usually pro in its highest spec‐position. The distribution of articles, definite as well as indefinite, in combination with various attributes is explained largely as a consequence of licensing conditions on the highest spec‐position and the categories it hosts. In addition some hitherto unnoticed facts concerning possessors in predicate NPs are discussed.