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Abstract Abstract：The A-Movement analysis of the English middle construction leaves the oblique middles untouched and fails to explain the unique syntactic and semantic properties of middle clauses. Under the assumption that the Mod INFL heads the middle structure, we advocate an A&A’-movement analysis of the middle construction. Specifically, we propose that the seemingly patient and adjunct subject of a middle clause is actually the external argument of cause licensed by the causative light verb. And the relevant NP-movement from spec-v to spec-Mod is a mixture of A-movement and A’-movement in that C might DONATE both [TOP] feature and phi-features to the tense-defective Mod. This A&A’-movement analysis provides a package account for the syntax and semantics of the English middle construction and naturally explains the paradox of eventive middle predicates and non-eventive middle clauses.
Key Words: the English middle construction; Mod; A&A’-Movement; feature DONATE
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