Abstract:

This paper proposes an account of the syntax of negative inversion constructions in English, as illustrated in sentences like "Nothing could they do to save her". The preposed negative constituent, always accompanied by subject-auxiliary inversion, turns a positive clause into a negative one and has an impact on the entire clausal domain. It is proposed that the preposed negative constituent targets the specifier of FocP and the auxiliary moves to Foc. The head Foc constituent of FocP carries an uninterpretable focus feature which has to be deleted in the course of the derivation via agreement between the specifier and the head. Central to my analysis is the assumption that no specifier can agree with an empty head position and subject-auxiliary inversion is triggered when there is no head to agree with. Given that the head Foc position in negative inversion structures is unfilled, an auxiliary is moved to Foc in order to provide a head for the specifier to enter into the agreement relationship.