Subjects with the Semantic Type of Predicates


Hotze Rullmann
University of Alberta
rullmann@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca


Jan-Wouter Zwart
University of Groningen
zwart@let.rug.nl


This paper provides evidence for a flexible relation between syntactic function and semantic type. We argue that in predication structures, the subject may be of type (the characteristic type of predicates), but only if the predicate is of type <,t> (the type of a generalized quantifier). Our analysis is based on the behavior of the distal demonstrative pronoun (d-pronoun) 'die/dat' in Dutch. Normally, a d-pronoun agrees with its antecedent in person and number (``dat'' = neuter sg., 'die' = pl. and nonneuter sg.). However, when the d-pronoun is the subject of a small clause, 'dat' is allowed even for nonneuter or plural antecedents. In exactly these circumstances, the predicate cannot be of type but must be of type <,t>. This leads us to conclude that the subject (the d-pronoun 'dat') must be of type and not of type . The analysis explains the following:

(1) Nonagreeing 'dat' is also used when the d-pronoun itself is a predicate (either a VP or a small clause predicate), hence of type .

(2) Nonagreeing 'dat' can't be the subject of a VP or of a small clause with a predicate other than a full DP.

(3) Nonagreeing 'dat' allows quantified predicates of any kind, but the predicate of an agreeing d-pronoun can only be a definite or indefinite DP, or one headed by 'geen' ('no').

Last updated July 20, 1997 by
rblight@mail.utexas.edu
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