NP-MOVEMENT AND THE POSSESSIVE GENITIVE

Abstract: The paper discusses the place of the genitive in the derivation of complex NPs, particularly in relation to other, competing syntactic means. The study that relies on some modular components of the theory or principles and parametres (X' theory, case theory, and the theory of thematic roles) focuses on the NP-movement of the possessive genitive out of the basegenerated position into the specifier position or into the projection occupied by the possessive suffix. The author argues that in order to explan the phenomenon a new level should be recognized between DP and NP—the functional category Poss. NP-movement is explained as the tendency of nouns to be as determined and actualised as possible. The influence of the morphosyntactic property of determination of possessive forms on other congruent attributes is examined.