GB 语法 S091・第9章·思考题逐题解答(上)

GB 语法 · 第9章 名词组移位
Syntax · S091

思考题逐题解答(上)

主动/被动的歧义、提升句 D 结构、控制 vs 提升、十道病句归因
exercise solutions歧义来源双提升病句归因
一句话本质:习题把提升、被动、无受格揉在一起考;解题钥匙永远是同一把——先摆 D 结构派 θ,再查谁没格,最后看移位有没有跨过不该跨的岛。
1题一:为什么主动有歧义、被动反而没有

原题给了三组对比例,主动句都能两读,被动句只剩一读。逐组拆:

Nobody mentioned yesterday. / Yesterday couldn’t be mentioned.
主动两读:①yesterday 是时间状语(”昨天没人提”);②yesterday 是 mention 的受事(”没人提昨天那档子事”)。被动里 yesterday 升了主语,只能是受事——时间状语不受动词影响,进不了被动。
They settled on the island. / The island was settled on.
主动两读:①settle on=”就…拍板”,island 是 on 的补语;②island 是地点(他们在岛上落脚)。被动里 island 居主语,只能是被拍板的对象。
Every teacher graded three essays. / Three essays were graded by every teacher.
主动有数量辖域歧义:①每位老师各改三篇(every 宽域);②就三篇文章、每位老师都改了(three 宽域)。被动里 three essays 居句首,倾向固定的”就三篇”读法,歧义塌缩。

歧义的句法根源:前两组的歧义来自那个介词短语挂在哪个节点——挂 VP 内当补语/受影响成分就能被动化,挂更高一层当句子性状语就不能。第三组不同,它的 D 结构只有一个,两读来自逻辑式上 every 与 three 的辖域先后不同,不是 D 结构歧义。

被动为何没歧义:被动化把真正受动词波及的补语 NP 抽到句首 [Spec,IP],位置钉死;那些制造歧义的性状语不受影响、进不了被动,宽域量化词又被句首位置固定了读法——于是歧义在被动句里集体蒸发。

2题二:画提升句 D 结构并解释移位

(1) Helen appears to admire the conductor. appears 是提升动词。D 结构里 Helen 蹲子句主语位领 admire 的施事 θ,不定式不发格,故升到主句主语:

[D]

IPeI′CPIPI′appearsHelenitoadmirethe conductor

[S]

IPI′CPIPI′Heleniappearstitoadmirethe conductor

(3) Helen seems likely to be promoted. 这是双重提升。Helen 在 promoted 的补语位领受事 θ(被动无格),先挪到 likely 那位(likely 属提升形容词、不派 θ),再升到 seems 的主语位,每步留 t:

[D]

IPeCPIPeCPIPseemslikelyHelenitobepromotedti

[S]

IPCPIPCPIPHeleniseemstilikelytitobepromotedti

(5) The ball seems to have rolled off the shelf. roll 是无受格(作格)动词,the ball 是 roll 的补语,先升到不定式主语、再升到主句主语,两级提升。

(4) Is there likely to be anyone invited? there 是虚主语、likely 提升;D 结构 there 蹲子句主语位,再升到主句主语(疑问句挪到 C 附近),anyone 留原位。

三个病句为什么不合法:

(6)* Helen would be unlikely for to accept the offer. unlikely 作提升形容词不选 for-补语;for 要给它管辖的不定式主语发受格,可 Helen 是从补语位提升上来的语迹,提升链格统一为主格,不能在原位拿 for 的受格。
(7)* Helen seems to the judges to doubt themselves. themselves 须受一个统制它的先行词约束;to the judges 是介词附加语,judges 被 P 挡住统制不到内层主语,Helen 又单数,无人能约束 themselves,违反原则甲。
(8)* Helen seems will retire soon. seems 后本该接不定式 to VP,却直接冒出定式助动词 will;一个 IP 里塞两个定式 I、又没有 CP 隔开,屈折位置超编。应作 Helen seems to be retiring/Helen seems that she will retire。

(9) Helen promises to be a reliable friend. 两读:promise 兼有控制与提升两副面孔。控制读:Helen_i promises [PRO_i to be…]——Helen 是 promise 的施事,PRO 自具 θ,不提升。提升读:[IP Helen_i promises [CP [IP t_i to be…]]]——promise 像 seem,Helen 从子句里端上来。两读对应两个不同底层。

3题三:判定控制动词还是提升动词

判据就一条:主句主语的 θ 到底是不是主句动词派的。只要主句主语是主句动词的分身(不管施事还是经验者),就归控制、后接 PRO;θ 全来自后面不定式 VP、主句动词不派 θ →提升、后接提升链。

动词 主语 θ 从哪来 判定
decided Helen 是 decide 的施事,decide 给主语派 θ 控制:Helen decided [PRO to…]
managed They 是 manage 的施事 控制:They managed [PRO to…]
failed They 是 fail 的主体 控制:They failed [PRO to…]
came to “渐渐了解”不强调主语主动,主语 θ 来自 know 整件事 近提升(编者倾向提升)
tends tend 不给主语施事 θ;能说 It tends to… 提升:Power_i tends [t_i to corrupt people]

续题(6) How much heed is thought to seem likely to be paid to his advice? 是被动+多重提升叠加。D 结构里 heed 蹲 pay 的补语位,经 be paid 升一级、likely 再升、thought 再升,最后到句首当疑问主语:

[D]

IPeCPIPeCPIPeisthoughttoseemlikelytobepaidhow much heedtohisadvice

[S]

IPCPIPCPIPHow much heediisthoughttitoseemlikelytitobepaidtitohisadvice

续题(7)三句 Which one do you consider [__ is / to be / the best]:空位分别是定式子句主语、ECM 不定式主语、形容词小句主语;三句都靠 wh 移位把 which one 提到句首、原位留 t。

4题四:从格/论旨/约束/移位归因病句

(1) *Helen seems that Mary likes t. seem 接定式 that 子句时主语该填 it;t 在 that 子句的宾语位,NP 移位不能跨过定式 CP 把宾语提到主句主语——提升只能从紧邻的不定式主语位升一层。

(2) *Helen seems that she is believed to be happy. she 是代词却被主句 Helen 统制约束,犯原则乙(代词须自由);且 that 子句是岛,提升链跳不过来。

(3) *I believe [PRO to be happy]. believe 是 ECM 动词,不定式主语受它管辖;PRO 偏偏不许受管辖,得换成受格的 me:I believe myself to be happy。

(4) *It is believed [Helen to have been invited]. 主句主语被虚主语 it 占了,Helen 蹲不定式主语位——被动 invited 不发受格、不定式 to 不发主格,两头无格。Helen 本应继续升到主句主语:Helen_i is believed [t_i to have been invited t_i]。

(5) *I never cry when [PRO watch a film]. when 子句是定式(watch 有时态),定式主语不能是 PRO;且 when 子句不是控制动词补语,建不起控制关系。

(6) *I want John to invite PRO. invite 的宾语位受 V 管辖,PRO 不许待在受管辖位置;I 又统制不到不定式内部宾语,控制建不起来。应作 I want John to invite me。

(7) *Helen seems that it appears t to be happy. 中间隔着 that 定式子句,NP 移位跨不过这个岛,不能跳两层提升。

(8)* There caught John. caught 是主动及物、带施事外论元、照发受格,跟无受格沾不上边;而虚主语 there 只肯搭无受格或被动这类动词的车。

(9) *Helen invited t. invite 是主动及物、发受格、有施事外论元,没有理由把宾语提到主语——那会让 Helen 一身兼施事与受事两个 θ。

(10) *Himself seems to Bill to be the best candidate. himself 是后应词须受统制它的先行词约束;可它蹲在主句主语位,to Bill 是介词附加语,Bill 统制不到主句主语,后应词悬空。

Noscit 词源研习 · GB 语法专栏 · S091