习题解答①:控制动词 vs ECM、可见性、PRO 指派
题目给四组对立,要求判断各自动词归属。先看 try 与 believe 这对:
思路:try 后面的不定式主语位不许出现显性名词,只容得下无格的 PRO——这个位置不受管辖、不授格,正是 PRO 的栖息地,所以 try 是控制动词。believe 后面却要显性名词坐镇,主句动词跨过不定式的边界,硬把宾格发给了 Bill——这是例外格标记(ECM)结构,所以 believe 是 ECM 动词。用格理论收口:控制位不授格,显性名词待不住、只有 PRO 能待;ECM 位授格,显性名词待得住、PRO 无格待不住——二者恰是互补分布。
再看 expect/want 这组「两边都能接」的:
结论:expect/want 既接显性主语又接 PRO,说明它们在两种结构间摇摆:后跟显性名词时按 ECM 的路子发格,后跟 PRO 时又按控制的路子走。原书借此提醒:「非控制即 ECM」这种二分过于干净,expect/want 这类一身二任的动词正是理论要继续打磨的地方。原书还搬出西佛拉芒语作旁证:那种语言里由虚词 me 领头的不定式小句,主语既能是显性名词、也能隐成 PRO,足见这层跨语言的复杂性。
题目追问:PRO 定理说 PRO 不受管辖、没有格,可早先格理论又说 NP 要被派 θ 角色先得「可见」、而可见通常靠格实现——这不是矛盾吗?
思路:矛盾确实存在。PRO 无格(所以发不出声),却又必须承接 decline 这类动词的施事 θ;按可见性假说,一个无格的 NP 根本不「可见」,凭什么领 θ?原书给出的调和办法是让 PRO 自带格(所谓内在格标记):格作为 PRO 自身特征矩阵的一部分,不必等外人来发,于是它虽不被管辖,仍满足可见性。原书同时引 Davis (1986) 坦言这是个仍在争论的折中。应试时答出「内在格标记」这条主流出路即可。
按「找非限定小句 → 看主语位空不空 → 判受不受管辖 → 找控制者」四步,逐句给出结论:
| # | 句子(改写) | PRO 指派与控制者 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The student needs time to finish the essay. | needs time [PRO to finish],PRO=主语学生(目的状语) |
| 2 | The boy ate the pill to please the doctor. | [PRO to please] 目的状语,PRO=主语男孩 |
| 3 | The committee intends to resign. | intends [PRO to resign],PRO=主语委员会 |
| 4 | They need a man who will cook dinner. | 定语从句有显性主语 who,无需 PRO |
| 5 | They need a man to cook dinner. | need a man [PRO to cook],PRO=宾语 a man(宾语控制) |
| 6 | She suggested visiting the museum. | suggested [PRO visiting] 动名词,PRO=主语 she |
| 7 | The host asked the guest to sit down. | asked the guest [PRO to sit],PRO=宾语 guest |
| 8 | While waiting for the train, she fell asleep. | [PRO waiting] 时间状语,PRO=主语 she |
| 9 | In case of fire, use the stairs. | 祈使句,隐含主语=受话人 you(任意/二称) |
| 10 | She was glad to leave early. | glad [PRO to leave],PRO=主语 she(形容词控制) |
| 11 | I’ll answer questions whenever necessary. | whenever (it is) necessary 省略小句,无需派 PRO |
| 12 | Learning a language takes effort. | [PRO learning] 主语动名词,任意/惯常 PRO |
| 13 | To see is to believe. | [PRO to see]/[PRO to believe] 主语不定式,任意 PRO |
| 14 | He was eager to meet the author. | eager [PRO to meet],PRO=主语 he |
| 15 | To teach is to learn. | 两个主语不定式皆任意泛指 PRO |

