Tough movement

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In formal syntax, tough movement is a term used to describe sentences of the form:

(1) This problem is tough to solve.

(2) John is easy to please.

The phenomenon is informally named like this because example sentences like (1) typically involve the word "tough".

In these sentences, this problem is logically the object of solve, and John is logically the object of please. Both sentences can therefore be paraphrased as:

(1a) It is tough to solve this problem

(2a) It is easy to please John

In Transformational grammar, it is therefore assumed that the object exists in the normal position after the verb in the underlying structure of sentences like (1-2), just like in (1a-2a), but that it is then moved to the front in the overt structure.

In classical government and binding theory it is no longer assumed that the object is moved directly to the subject position. Rather, due to theory-internal considerations, it is assumed that there are two NPs: the NP "John" is base-generated in the matrix clause (namely, Spec-VP), and a covert movement (involving a null operator) is assumed in the embedded clause:

John_i is easy [Op_i PRO_j to please t_i] (see the tree diagram of the embedded clause below)

Other adjectives that act in the same way include easy, difficult, hard, fun and boring.

[edit] References

• Chomsky, N. (1973). Conditions on transformations. In S. Anderson & P. Kiparsky (Eds.), A festschrift for Morris Halle. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
• Chomsky, N. (1981). Lectures on government and binding. Dordrecht: Foris.
• Rezac, M. (2006). On tough movement. In C. Boeckx (Ed.), Minimalist essays (pp. 288-325). Philadelphia: John Benjamins.