Accusative case in passives

• DOI: 10.1515/ling.1999.37.1.1
• Publication Date: 2021-02-28T09:10:52Z
• Authors: Grant Goodall
• Keywords: Nominative case; Mandarin Chinese; Dative case

Abstract The standard explanation for Ν Ρ movement in the passive construction has been that N P must move into nominative position because no accusative case is available. This paper examines implications this view of some double-object constructions Mandarin Chinese and English are ungrammatical as active clauses but improve significantly passives. These facts unexpected under passives, I suggest they can be explained if we assume second object not licensed versions able to check version, thus arguing available clauses.