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:
“Your views are now my own.”
—Marvin Cohen, U.S. author and humorist.
In conversation, after having taken a strong position in an argument and heard a complete refutation of his position.
“Like desire, language disrupts, refuses to be contained within boundaries.”
—bell hooks (b. c. 1955)