Verb Movements in Dutch Sample Clauses

Verb Movements in Dutch. From the Dutch sentence structure in (61), and the assumptions laid out in section 1, and the hypothesis that AgrS in Dutch has a strong N-feature, the analysis of verb movement in Dutch follows straightforwardly. Because in Dutch the N-feature of AgrS is strong, checking of this feature must take place before the Spell Out point. We also assumed that for this to take place, AgrS must be associated with a lexical category, either by moving the verb to AgrS, or by moving AgrS to C. From these assumptions, it follows that the verb should be in AgrS in subject initial main clauses. There is no lexical complementizer for Agr to move to, therefore the only way to eliminate the strong N-feature of AgrS is to move the verb to AgrS. Once the verb is in AgrS, feature checking can proceed, and no further movement is needed. This takes care of sentences of the type in (1). In embedded clauses, Agr moves to C, and no verb movement has to take place. The verb therefore stays in the VP until LF. This takes care of (4)-(9). Finally, in topicalizations and wh-questions, checking requirements on [+operator] marked elements forces these elements to move to Spec,CP. This forces the verb to move to C, again on the assumption that lexicalization is needed for checking to be able to proceed. In these cases, then, the verb will be in C. This takes care of sentences of the type (2)-(3). All these movements follow from rather minimal assumptions, and there is considerable empirical evidence that this is what actually happens, as demonstrated in the preceding sections.