The Syntax of French Copular Sentences

The goal of this chapter is to review, update, and develop additional arguments in favor of what is generally considered to be the “standard” generative analysis of the French copula (être ‘to be’). In a nutshell, the discussion below will show that French copular sentences such as the one given below in (1) below are associated with the D-Structure in (2) and the S-Structure in (3). 1

Jean est malade/à la maison/cet homme là-bas.

Jean is sick/at the house/that man over-there

‘Jean is sick/at home/that man over there.’

2

[CP[IP[FP[AgrP[VP être[AP/PP/DP Jean

[AP/PP/DP malade/à la maison/cet homme là-bas]]]]]]]

3

[CP[IP Jean_i est_j [FPt_j [AgrP t_j [VP t_j [AP/PP/DP t_i

[AP/PP/DP malade/à la maison/cet homme là-bas]]]]]]]