UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DEL COMAHUE

FACULTAD DE LENGUAS
ENGLISH GRAMMAR IV

ECM vs OBJECT CONTROL PREDICATES

1. Read the bibliography from unit III on ECM and object control predicates and do the
following activities.

a. Determine the structure of the predicates in the following sets. Justify your answer
providing evidence.

1. a. Susan persuaded [John to study hard]

b. Susan persuaded [Johni] [PROi to study hard]

2. a. Mary cant imagine [him to be married]

b. Mary cant imagine [himi] [PROi to be married]

3. a. The teacher encourage [her students to take part in the research project]

b. The teacher encourage [her studentsI] [PROi to take part in the research project]

b. SYNTACTIC ARGUMENTATION: Consider the hypothesis below and provide any

relevant data that allows you to refine it to really account for the phenomenon
under analysis.

The main difference between ECM and object control predicates lies in the fact that ECM verbs
select an external argument and objects control do not.

c. Integration: choose the category that best fits in each position taking into account the
type of predicate. Justify your choice.

1. John hopes [t /PRO/Susan to pass the exam]

2. I know [t/ PRO/John to have studied hard]
3. Power tends [t/PRO/human beings to corrupt people]
4. My parents wouldnt allow [t/PRO/me to go to the party]
5. Susan is expected [t/PRO/her daughter to study hard]