Assignment 4

This is going to be about a phenomenon the name of which I will tell you later.
There will be four parts.

I.  Antecedent-contained ellipsis

The current problem is not really about this, but just in case it's still a problem:

(1)   I read the same book Harvey did.
(2)   I visited every city that my father did.
(3)   The Americans made the same mistakes the Russians did.
(4)   People of my generation will not have seen as many new inventions as people of yours will.

If it's not a problem, tell me why not.  If it is a problem, tell me why.

II. Proofs and Existence

(1)    A proof that God exists exists.
(1a)  *A proof that God exists does.
(1b)  *A proof that God does exists.

You might also want to consider:
(_)  *There exists a proof that God does.
(_)  *A proof exists that God does.

NOTE: In all of these examples, the ungrammatical ones are grammatical if some
antecedent outside the given sentence is assumed.  That is neither surprising
nor interesting.

(4)    All those claims that my theory is incorrect are incorrect.
(4a)  *All those claims that my theory is incorrect are.
(4b)  *All those claims that my theory is are incorrect.

(5)    Charley's assertion that he is widely admired for his boldness is widely admired for its boldness.
(5a)  *Charley's assertion that he is widely admired for his boldness is.
(5b)  *Charley's assertion that he is is widely admired for its boldness.

(6)    Most of the evidence that the documents were faked was faked.
(6a)  *Most of the evidence that the documents were faked was.
(6b)  *Most of the evidence that the documents were was faked.

(7)    The rising nuclear power's desire to be dangerous is dangerous.
(7a)  *The rising nuclear power's desire to be dangerous is.
(7b)  *The rising nuclear power's desire to be is dangerous.

(8)    That some true theorems are not provable is provable.
(8a)  *That some true theorems are not provable is.
(8b)  *That some true theorems are not is provable.

Do you currently have a theory of VP Ellipsis that accounts for the ungrammatical examples?

If so, show it me.
If not, make one.



III.  A new Wrinkle on the Problem

Now consider the following:

(1)   *People who don't believe God exists don't.
(1b)   People who don't believe they exist don't.

(3)    The guy who claimed he stole the monkey didn't.
(3b)  *The guy who claimed Harvey stole the monkey didn't.

(4)   Every book that the store claimed had been stolen had.

(5)    The man who wanted to steal the books couldn't.
(5b)  *The man who wanted Harvey to steal the books couldn't.

(6)    Every man who said he would buy some salmon did.
(6b)  *Every man who said Harvey would buy some salmon did.

(7)    Every man who wants to should buy some salmon.
(7b)  *Every man who wants Harvey to should buy some salmon.

(8)    The man who promised me to left town.
(8b)  *The man who persuaded me to left town.

(9)   *That you think their actions are surprising isn't.
(9a)   What you think is surprising isn't.

(9c)   What I thought would persuade Stanley to change his mind didn't.

(This last one is unambiguous, and that's what's interesting.)

Investigate this a bit further, and tell me if it poses a challenge
for the analysis you worked out for part II.  If it doesn't, go to the beach.


IV.  A little lagniappe:

(1)    Eric sent letters to every senator Polly sent letters to.
(1a)   Eric sent letters to every senator Polly did.
(1b)  *Eric sent letters to every aide who worked for a senator Polly did.

(2)    Polly visited every town Eric did.
(2a)   Polly visited a town in every country Eric did.

(Unambiguous, in an interesting way.)