1 Syntax (part 8) A-Movement Neal Snape Idioms • An interesting piece of evidence in support of the VP-Internal Subject Hypothesis comes from the syntax of idioms. (5) (a) Let’s have a couple of drinks to break the ice (introduce yourself) (b) Be careful not to upset the applecart (to cause trouble) (c) The president must bite the bullet (to force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult) • In (5) the form verb + complement is the idiom, but the subject isn’t part of the idiom. • It is easy to change the subjects of the idioms in (5), as in (6): (6) (a) Let’s play a game to break the ice (b) I hope I don’t upset the applecart (c) I hate going to the dentist, but I'll just have to bite the bullet (6a) Let’s play a game to break the ice This is the idiom (6b) I hope I don’t upset the applecart This is the idiom (6c) I hate going to the dentist, but I'll just have to bite the bullet This is the idiom
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1
Syntax(part8)
A-Movement
NealSnape
Idioms
• AninterestingpieceofevidenceinsupportoftheVP-InternalSubjectHypothesiscomesfromthesyntaxofidioms.
(5)(a) Let’shaveacoupleofdrinkstobreaktheice
(introduceyourself)
(b) Becarefulnottoupsettheapplecart(tocausetrouble)
(c)Thepresidentmustbitethebullet(toforceyourselftodosomething
unpleasantordifficult)
• In(5)theformverb+complementistheidiom,butthesubjectisn’tpartoftheidiom.
• Itiseasytochangethesubjectsoftheidiomsin(5),asin(6):
(6)(a) Let’splayagametobreaktheice(b) IhopeIdon’tupsettheapplecart(c) Ihategoingtothedentist,butI'lljusthavetobite
thebullet
(6a)Let’splayagametobreaktheice
Thisistheidiom
(6b) IhopeIdon’tupsettheapplecart
Thisistheidiom
(6c) Ihategoingtothedentist,butI'lljusthavetobitethebullet
Thisistheidiom
2
• In(5)and(6)theformverb+complementistheidiom,butthesubjectisn’tpartoftheidiom.
• Compareidiomsin(5)with(7):
(7)(a) Allhellbrokeloose(asituationsuddenlybecomesviolentand
noisy)
(b) Theshithitthefan(whenthingsgetuncontrollable)(c) Thecatgothistongue(whenyouareannoyedwithsomeoneand
thepersonisquiet)
• In(7),notonlyisthechoiceofverbandcomplementfixed,butsotooisthechoiceofsubject.
• However,whatispuzzlingaboutidiomslike(7)isthatoneormoreauxiliariescanfreelybepositionedbetweenthesubjectandverb
(8)(a) Allhellwillbreakloose(b) Allhellhasbrokenloose(c) Allhellcouldbreakloose
(9)(a) Theshitmighthitthefan(b) Theshithashitthefan(c) Theshitmusthavehitthefan
(8a)Allhellwillbreakloose
Thisistheidiom
[EPP]
Willallhell breakloose?
Thisistheidiom
[EPP]
(8b)Allhellhasbrokenloose
Thisistheidiom
[EPP]
(8c)Allhellcould breakloose
Thisistheidiom
[EPP]
3
(9a)Theshitmighthitthefan
Thisistheidiom
[EPP]
(9b)Theshithashitthefan
Thisistheidiom
[EPP]
(9c)Theshitmusthavehitthefan
ThisistheidiomExercises
(1) Thecatisoutofthebag=(Thesecrethasbeendiscovered)(2) Thecatmustbeoutofthebag(3) Thecatwillbe outofthebag(4) Thechickenscamehometoroost=(thebadresultsof
somethingsomeonehasdonearestartingtohappen)(5) Thechickenshave comehometoroost(6) Thechickensdidnotcomehometoroost
Exercises
Drawtreesforthefollowingidioms.DecidewhetherthesubjectisinternaltotheVPorexternaltotheVP.
1. Hehitthenailonthehead(doorsaysomethingexactlyright)/Hemusthavehitthenailonthehead.
2. Ittakestwototango(actionsorcommunicationsneedmorethanoneperson)/Itmusttaketwototango.
3. Helosthishead(angryandovercomebyemotions)/Hemayhavelosthishead.
4. Hehitthebooks(tostudy,especiallyforatestorexam)/Heshouldhitthebooks.
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