Restructuring Tough Construction in English

This paper addresses the syntactic complexities of tough constructions, building on Park’s (2024) reinterpretation of Chomsky’s (1981) restructuring analysis. Assuming that the matrix tough predicate and the subsequent embedded infinitive amalgamate into a single complex adjective, we propose that restructuring facilitates the proper assignment of an external θ-role to the matrix subject. By analyzing key examples and addressing previous research findings, this study demonstrates that integrating the restructuring approach into External Merge (EM) analysis provides a robust solution to various syntactic challenges within tough constructions.