ON LABELING IN FREE RELATIVE CLAUSES IN ENGLISH

Abstract

We propose that a wh-element and -ever in free relative clauses (FRCs) with -ever are syntactically independent elements and the wh-element moves to -ever to derive the complex form wh-ever. If the wh-element projects, we get the FRC headed by the wh-element. On the other hand, if -ever projects, we get the concessive clause. We also argue that the notion of phase plays an important role in label determination. Based on this argument, we show that even a phrasal category such as a wh-phrase can project at the landing site as long as it is a phase and contains no specifier.