Basic English Syntax with Exercises

Suggested answer for Exercise 9

exp = experiencer; prop = proposition;

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)

In sentence *2) the DP one of the big parties is base-generated as the subject of the verb win in the lowest clause, so it is the argument of the verb win and receives its theta-role from the verb win. In sentence (5) the subject position is filled by an expletive pronoun, which again has no theta-role and thus it is no argument either.