The Syntax of Secondary Predicates in Standard Arabic: A Minimalist Approach

Abstract

This paper examines the structure of the secondary predicates in Standard Arabic using the Minimalist Program. The main aim of the paper is to make generalizations about the structure as well as to find a uniform analysis of this structure. Among the most important results reached are as follows: The secondary predicates have a unified structure that is derived from small clauses that form a phase. In addition, despite having one unified structure, these predicates have distinct positions. Moreover, secondary predicates also possess shared arguments (with main predicates) and secondary predicates differ depending on the types of shared argument it modifies. We also find that the apparent ‘accusative’ Case shown on the secondary predicates has nothing to do with verbs. In fact, the Case hosted on secondary predicates is an abstract Case, which is derived through the genitive Case parameter. Finally, the control structure provided by some predicates is derived by copying and merging the shared argument from the specifier of the small clause to a higher position in the sentence structure, noting that the empty element PRO does not exist within the proposed analysis.