Symmetricity, postposition, and hydras: Experimental evidence against the ATB-analysis of partial agreement in Russian

Abstract

We present the results of acceptability judgement study focused on partial predicate agreement in Russian. We test the predictions of a possible analysis of partial agreement assuming coordination on VP level with subsequent Across-the-Board movement of verbal heads to a structurally higher position. This analysis implies restrictions on partial agreement in the case of symmetrical predicates, SV word order, and coordinated subject being a head of a relative clause. Our experimental data support none of these predictions. We propose that this result argues in favor of the DP-coordination analysis of partial agreement in Russian.