Verb Phrase Ellipsis: Merge, Labeling & Features

This paper reanalyzes Verb Phrase Ellipsis (VPE) through merge and labeling theories, examining the relevant licensing conditions and characteristics. It outlines the licensing conditions in VPE, the role of auxiliary verbs in VPE, and the function of verb tense in the merging process. It proposes that vocabulary features at the interface and labels generated during merging can expand the phase, enabling a thorough examination of a syntactic structure. This paper introduces the [+DCI] feature, arguing that its activation facilitates VPE. Specifically, this paper suggests that English auxiliary verbs carry the [+DCI] feature, which supports both syntactic explanations and semantic recovery. It posits that the [+strong] feature of Korean case markers is similar to the [+Aux] feature of English auxiliary verbs, with both serving analogous roles in ellipsis constructions due to activation by the [+DCI] feature.