On Verbal NP-modifiers

Verb is usually known to be a predicator, not a modifier. For instance, the verbal complex [V + tense morpheme] is never used as a modifier. However, Verb can modify NP when it is attached by an inflectional ending other than tense. The passive morpheme en and the progressive morpheme ing turn Verb into an NP modifier, and furthermore, unaccusative verb can function as an NP-modifier when it is attached by the perfective morpheme en, although accusative verb cannot. In short, although the verbal complexes [Verb +tense] and [accusative Verb + perfective en] cannot be modifiers, all other combinations can function as NP-modifiers. With a view into explaining this pattern, this paper claims that (i) Verb Phrase, just like Adjective Phrase, can function as a modifier, since one-place predicates can be modifiers via theta-identification, but (ii) Verb is more restrictive than Adjective in that the verbal complexes [Verb +tense] and [accusative Verb + perfective en] cannot be NP-modifiers, since the EPP of Tense requires the presence of the subject, bleeding the chance of making Verb a one-place predicate.