English syntax – symmetry and assymetry, Theta-Criterion, the Case Filter

Hey guys,

I am struggling with this assignment. I am not asking you to do my homework for me but can somebody please recommend me literature/articles/videos that could help me understand and solve this assignment?

1.- The sets of data in (1) below seem to indicate that the English adjectival predicates likely and reluctant behave syntactically alike, given that both may appear followed by a to-infinitive:

(1) a. George is likely to take the afternoon train.

b. George is reluctant to take the afternoon train.

However, that likely and reluctant cannot be treated on a par syntactically is evidenced by the examples in (2) and (3):

(2) a. The train is likely to be late.

b. !!The train is reluctant to be late.

(3) a. *George is likely.

b. George is reluctant.

Discuss in detail the reasons for the symmetry in (1) and the asymmetry in (2)- (3). In order to do that, you must take (2)-(3) as the basis for an analysis of the argument structure of both likely and reluctant, as well as their subcategorization frames. Once you have finished, explain how the Theta-Criterion and the Case Filter are complied with for the relevant elements in the grammatical (1a) and (1b).

Finally, examine the examples below, in which the matrix predicate is the adjective possible: (4) a. *George is possible to take the afternoon train.

b. It is possible for George to take the afternoon train.

Does possible belong to the same syntactic class as likely, reluctant or does it constitute a different type? Discuss how (4) can help us determine the right answer by comparison with its potential correlates with likely and reluctant