Main Verb Raising to INFL + Small Clause

In [#!pollack89!#] the copula is generated as the head of a VP, like any main verb such as sing or buy. Unlike all other main verbs^9.2, however, be moves out of the VP and into Infl in a tensed sentence. This analysis aims to account for the behavior of be as an auxiliary in terms of inversion, negative placement and adverb placement, while retaining a sentential structure in which be heads the main VP at D-Structure and can thus be the only verb in the clause. Pollock claims that the predicative phrase is not an argument of be, which instead he assumes to take a small clause complement, consisting of a node dominating an NP and a predicative AP, NP or PP. The subject NP of the small clause then raises to become the subject of the sentence. This accounts for the failure of the copula to impose any selectional restrictions on the subject. Raising verbs such as seem and appear, presumably, take the same type of small clause complement.