The Verb Phrase, Clausal Complements and Extraposition

Abstract

In this chapter, we will take a close look at the German verbal projection. The major point of interest is that although the language selects the head-final setting of the headedness parameter, finite clauses are almost invariably found to the right of the verbal complex. Proposals to cope with this fact range from extraposition to base generation. Post-head complements in an OV-language offer a unique testing ground for the theory of scope constraints developed so far. As we shall see, German postverbal CPs with argument status can freely topicalize, but they cannot undergo LF-movement. We shall further see that although overt movement is possible from CPs in post-head position, no parallel LF-movement is attested. This is in sharp contrast to languages that belong to the VO-type. Similar effects can be pointed out in the area of Verb Raising and related constructions.