Argument Contained Ellipsis
As noted above, VP-ellipsis is generally impossible if it would operate both backwards and upwards. There are also certain other restrictions on the possibility of ellipsis, although a complete theoretical analysis may be lacking. Two examples of environments in which ellipsis fails are now given:
-
- *A proof that God exists does .
- *A proof that God does exists.
The inability of VP-ellipsis to occur in these cases has been explored in terms of so-called argument contained ellipsis. The ellipsis appears inside an argument of the predicate represented by the antecedent to the ellipsis. A satisfactory account of the inability of VP-ellipsis to occur in these sentences is lacking.
Read more about this topic: Verb Phrase Ellipsis
Famous quotes containing the words argument and/or contained:
“A striking feature of moral and political argument in the modern world is the extent to which it is innovators, radicals, and revolutionaries who revive old doctrines, while their conservative and reactionary opponents are the inventors of new ones.”
—Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre (b. 1929)
“The train was now going fast. Franz suddenly clutched his side, transfixed by the thought that he had lost his wallet which contained so much.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (18991977)