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The Syntactic Nature of Inner Aspect Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today (LA) Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today (LA) provides a platform for original monograph studies into synchronic and diachronic linguistics. Studies in LA confront empirical and theoretical problems as these are currently discussed in syntax, semantics, morphology, phonology, and systematic pragmatics with the aim to establish robust empirical generalizations within a universalistic perspective. General Editors Werner Abraham University of Vienna / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Elly van Gelderen Arizona State University Advisory Editorial Board Cedric Boeckx Christer Platzack Guglielmo Cinque Ian Roberts Günther Grewendorf Lisa deMena Travis Liliane Haegeman Sten Vikner Hubert Haider C. Jan-Wouter Zwart Harvard University University of Venice J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt University of Lille, France University of Salzburg University of Lund Cambridge University McGill University University of Aarhus University of Groningen Volume 133 The Syntactic Nature of Inner Aspect. A minimalist perspective by Jonathan E. MacDonald The Syntactic Nature of Inner Aspect A minimalist perspective Jonathan E. MacDonald Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona John Benjamins Publishing Company Amsterdam / Philadelphia 8 TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences – Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48-1984. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data MacDonald, Jonathan E. The syntactic nature of inner aspect : a minimalist perspective / by Jonathan E. MacDonald. p. cm. (Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today, issn 0166-0829 ; v. 133) Substantial reorganization and expansion of the author’s thesis (Ph. D.--Stony Brook University, 2006 Ph.D.) presented under the title: The syntax of inner aspect. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Grammar, Comparative and general--Aspect. 2. Grammar, Comparative and general--Syntax. 3. Minimalist theory (Linguistics) 4. Slavic languages--Aspect. I. Title. P281.M24 2008 415’.63--dc22 isbn 978 90 272 5516 7 (Hb; alk. paper) 2008031393 © 2008 – John Benjamins B.V. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, or any other means, without written permission from the publisher. John Benjamins Publishing Co. · P.O. Box 36224 · 1020 me Amsterdam · The Netherlands John Benjamins North America · P.O. Box 27519 · Philadelphia pa 19118-0519 · usa This book is dedicated to Jessica, a well of motivation in my life. Table of contents Acknowledgments Preface List of abbreviations chapter 1 An introduction to the syntax of inner aspect 1. A brief introduction to inner aspect 1 2. Two independent properties of English inner aspect 4 3. Previous syntactic accounts of inner aspect 7 3.1 No explicit account of achievements vs. accomplishments 8 3.1.1 Double functional projection approaches 10 3.1.2 Single functional projection approaches 14 3.1.3 A non-functional projection approach 18 3.2 Explicit accounts of achievements vs. accomplishments 21 3.2.1 Megerdoomian 2001 21 3.2.2 Ramchand 2003 23 3.2.3 Travis in prep 25 4. An outline of the present syntactic account of inner aspect 27 5. The rest of the book 29 xi xiii xv 1 chapter 2 31 The syntax of eventives 1: An aspectual projection 1. The durative phrase 32 2. An aspectual projection between vP and VP 37 2.1 The object-to-event mapping 38 2.1.1 NPs enter into the object-to-event mapping, not DPs 38 2.