With VP shells, one way to analyze VSO languages is to say the tense features on the light verb v are strong, while the EPP (Extended Projection Principle) feature is weak (i.e. the subject stays in situ). Take a VSO language like Scottish-Gaelic

Chunnaic Ian Mary

 

see-PAST Ian Mary

 

'Ian saw Mary.'

We get a structure like the following

If the vP is elided from this structure, we delete both the subject and object and that's what VP ellipsis does in Scottish-Gaelic. The question

Am faca tu Mary?

 

Q? see-PAST you Mary

 

'Did you see Mary'?

can be answered by 'Chunnaic' (Yes) or 'Chan fhaca' (No). Both have their vPs elided. Perhaps this is true for most VSO languages.

With VP shells, one way to analyze VSO languages is to say the tense features on the light verb v are strong, while the EPP (Extended Projection Principle) feature is weak (i.e. the subject stays in situ). Take a VSO language like Scottish-Gaelic

Chunnaic Ian Mary

see-PAST Ian Mary

'Ian saw Mary.'

We get a structure like the following

If the vP is elided from this structure, we delete both the subject and object and that's what VP ellipsis does in Scottish-Gaelic. The question

Am faca tu Mary?

Q? see-PAST you Mary

'Did you see Mary'?

can be answered by 'Chunnaic' (Yes) or 'Chan fhaca' (No). Both have their vPs elided. Perhaps this is true for most VSO languages.

With VP shells, one way to analyze VSO languages is to say the tense features on the light verb v are strong, while the EPP (Extended Projection Principle) feature is weak (i.e. the subject stays in situ. Take a VSO language like Scottish-Gaelic

Chunnaic Ian Mary

see-PAST Ian Mary

'Ian saw Mary.'

We get a structure like the following

If the vP is elided from this structure, we delete both the subject and object and that's what VP ellipsis does in Scottish-Gaelic. The question

Am faca tu Mary?

Q? see-PAST you Mary

'Did you see Mary'?

can be answered by 'Chunnaic' (Yes) or 'Chan fhaca' (No). Both have their vPs elided. Perhaps this is true for most VSO languages.

With VP shells, one way to analyze VSO languages is to say the tense features on the light verb v are strong, while the EPP (Extended Projection Principle) feature is weak (i.e. the subject stays in situ). Take a VSO language like Scottish-Gaelic

Chunnaic Ian Mary

see-PAST Ian Mary

'Ian saw Mary.'

We get a structure like the following

If the vP is elided from this structure, we delete both the subject and object and that's what VP ellipsis does in Scottish-Gaelic. The question

Am faca tu Mary?

Q? see-PAST you Mary

'Did you see Mary'?

can be answered by 'Chunnaic' (Yes) or 'Chan fhaca' (No). Both have their vPs elided. Perhaps this is true for most VSO languages.