A Phase Extension Approach to Double Object Constructions – Evidence from Modern Greek*

Abstract

Abstract. This article examines A‐movement (a)symmetries in the double object construction in Modern Greek. Two types of double object constructions are attested in this language, the “dative construction” and the “double accusative construction”. These constructions, which are analysed as low applicatives, differ with regard to (i) the Case marking of the Goal, (ii) A‐movement properties of Themes and (iii) formation of adjectival passives with Goal externalisation. The article shows that (i)–(iii) are interrelated phenomena in Greek and that they can be accounted for by exploiting recent findings on phases, namely phase extension whereby a phase expands as a result of movement of the phase head. The phase extension approach to double object constructions illustrates that head movement interacts with locality as a narrow syntactic operation and that locality‐violating passives can be licensed without phase EPP‐features or multiple Specifiers. The article also dwells on the controversial issue concerning the quirky Subject status of fronted dative Goals in Greek and shows that the phase extension approach, in which dative clitics are analysed as phonetic realizations of applicative heads, supports the quirky Subject status of dative Goals.