The Semantics of Demonstrative Ce

The previous chapter was devoted to determining the D-Structure and the S-Structure associated with French copular sentences. Following Couquaux (1979, 1981), Heggie (1988), and Stowell (1978, 1983), it was argued that the copula (être ‘to be’) subcategorizes for a small clause at D-Structure and that the subject of the small clause raises at S-Structure in order to receive a Case feature from Agr-S. The major conclusion of chapter 4, therefore, was that copular sentences like (1) below share with other Raising verbs, e.g. rester ‘to remain,’ the D-Structure provided in (3) and the S-Structure in (4). 1

Jean sera pantois/à la maison/le plus riche des imbéciles.

Jean will-be dumbfounded/at the house/the most rich of-the imbeciles.

‘Jean will be dumbfounded/at home/the richest idiot.’

2

Jean restera pantois/à la maison/le plus riche des imbéciles.

Jean will-remain dumbfounded/at the house/the most rich of-the imbeciles

‘Jean will remain dumbfounded/at home/the richest idiot.’

3

[CP [IP [FP [AgrP [VP être/rester [AP/PP/DP Jean [AP/PP/DP Pantois/à la maison/le plus riche des imbéciles]]]]]]]

4

[CP [IP Jean_i sera_j/restera_j [FPt_j [AgrP t_j [VP t_j [AP/PP/DP t_i [AP/PP/DP pantois/à la maison/le plus riche des imbéciles]]]]]]]