Inner Derived Objects

Abstract

In this chapter, I start to argue for an articulated VP structure by investigating the position of derived objects. While syntacticians generally agree that there is a derived object position, there is less agreement on the details of the landing site. I review some past proposals for derived object positions. I look at cases where either the merged object position is filled or the derived object position is filled as well as cases where both of these positions are filled simultaneously. I then use cross–linguistic data to argue (i) that the derived position is below the merged position of the external argument and (ii) that elements that appear in this position come to be there through A–movement.