Multiple Case Checking in English Genitive DPs

Abstract

D may involve multiple case checking, which is observed in cross-linguistic data. It is well-known, on the other hand, that English is a type of language that disallows multiple case checking. In this paper, I will present a case where D appears to check case more than one time in English ? the one that involves genitive constructions. I will argue that the multiple case checking phenomenon is misleading, and that D is splitted into two functional categories ? i.e. D and Kase (K) ? in genitive constructions. Under the current approach, K bears an uninterpretable case feature (i.e. [ucase:gen*]) responsible for checking genitive case within DPs. On top of KP, D is projected, bearing another unvalued case feature that is subject to agree with a case assigner in a clause. The current analysis can capture the general fact that D is only allowed to check case once in English and resolve the puzzle of the seemingly multiple case checking phenomenon in genitive constructions.