LABELING IN INVERSION CONSTRUCTIONS

Abstract

This study investigates labeling in inversion constructions including locative inversion, as-inversion, so-inversion, and comparative inversion. I argue that in inverted focus constructions, where the subject stays in the vP-internal position, the complement YP of an {XP, YP} structure should undergo movement or ellipsis to avoid labeling failure. Furthermore, the absence of subject movement in inversion constructions may cause a problem for the weak T in English, which needs spec-head agreement to be strengthened. I propose that T that lacks the φ-agreeing element within TP should undergo internal pair-Merge to C, creating either <C, T> or <T, C>. This assumption is examined in terms of the visibility of T regarding subject-aux inversion, sentential negation and VP-ellipsis.