Small Clauses

Linguistics 322

Advanced notes

In all the above cases the subject of the small clause receives the accusative Case from the verb which governs the small clause. One fact common to all small clauses is that they are not modified by tense (a complement of tense):

Small clauses can be modified by the progressive aspect (complements of Prog):

1. Bill saw [ Jacqueline playing the piano ].
2. Mabel heard [ Sally screaming at her kids ].
3. Kyle felt [ an arachnid climbing up his arm ].
4. Someone smelled [ the toast burning in the toaster ].
5. Edith tasted [ ice cream melting in her mouth ].

Here, Sally can get Case from Prog. It must raise and adjoin to ProgP where it will in position to be marked for the accusative Case by hear.

To return to course outline Click here.