Double Object Constructions in English

Abstract

This paper deals with how to posit the structure of double object constructions and examines how the two objects of a double object construction can be Case-checked within the minimalist framework of Chomsky (1995). Since Barss and Lasnik (1986), the discussion of the phrase structure of double object constructions has concentrated on the notion that the first NP (IO) asymmetrically c-commands the second NP (DO). On the other hand, the consideration of the various syntactic facts, such as passive, particle, adverb, scope, and heavy NP shift, leads us to posit a layered vP structure for an indirect object (IO) in double object constructions, with the result that both the IO and the DO of these constructions are structurally Case-checked through Φ-feature matching of each light verb. In other words, under the assumption that the light verb projection has dual properties, in that it is involved with θ-role assignment as well as (structural) Case-checking, we claim that the higher light verb assigns and Agent θ-role to its Spec and participates in the (structural) Case-checking of the IO, while the lower light verb assigns a Goal θ-role to its Spec and participate in the (structural) Case-checking of the DO. Furthermore, this paper considers whether the postulation of another light verb projection, in addition to the usual light verb projection, in our double object structure can have any semantic motivation.