The Path Containment Condition And Argument Structure

Abstract

This study investigates the internal structure of verb phrases (VPs). Using the Path Containment Condition as developed by May (1985) to establish relations between (quantified) arguments, this study draws two conclusions about the structure of argument-relations within VPs. First, arguments have binary relations with projections of the verb. And second, verbal modifiers have more proximate D-Structure relations with the verb than do the subcategorized arguments of the verb.