A Focus Account of English Comparatives with Subject-Aux Inversion

Merchant (2002, 2003) observes that Subject-Aux Inversion in English comparatives obligatorily triggers VP ellipsis. Regarding this observation, Merchant argues that the Empty Category Principle should be observed at PF within a Principles-and-Parameters framework. I first show that his analysis is problematic. Then I argue that in order to understand certain restrictions on these constructions, discourse values such as focus should be operative in a syntactic component within a multiple Spell-Out model (cf. Chomsky 2000, 2001a, 2001b, Epstein et al. 1998). In particular, I propose that discourse values, instantiated as interpretive formal features in CHL, are activated by the interface and stay with the constituents. After Narrow Syntax, these discourse values drive further movement, which provides an account of SAI comparatives. Hence, I show that the so-called rightward movement, which has been regarded as a stylistic operation in PF, applies in a component called Shallow Syntax, which takes as input the output of the syntax proper, Narrow Syntax, with the activation of discourse values.