Middle Constructions in English: Adverb Effect and Voice Mismatch in VP-Ellipsis

This paper examines why middle constructions require adverbs and why voice mismatches in VP ellipsis are ungrammatical with middles. It argues that the necessity of adverbs arises from a structural requirement tied to VoicemiddleP, a projection that hosts adverbials and ensures grammaticality through a rescuing effect. VoicemiddleP also explains why voice mismatches in VP ellipsis fail in middles—while ellipsis generally permits active-passive mismatches, the obligatory presence of VoicemiddleP disrupts this mechanism. By identifying VoicemiddleP as crucial for both adverb licensing and ellipsis restrictions, this analysis refines our understanding of middle constructions. More broadly, it contributes to syntactic theory by clarifying how clause structure interacts with ellipsis, shedding light on movement and deletion constraints in natural language.