Agreement Patterns and Non-universa1 Application of the Extended Projedion Principle in A-movement

This paper critically examines universal application of the Extended Projection Principle (EPP) and proposes that a functional category is qualified to have an EPP feature when it is φ-complete. First,a comparison between singular concord in Belfast English and Arabic partial agreement reveals that an incomplete φ-set is embodied by partial agreement. Secondly,the correlation between agreement pattems and word order in Arabic leads to the hypothesis that the EPP is not applied when T has an incomplete φ-set. To support this view, the following three points are discussed. First, a null expletive analysis of the VS(O) order is rejeded. Secondly, it is argued that the verb does not move to the C position. Finally, it is shown that although the subject may or may not move out of vP, it can undergo overt movement only when the relevant functional category is φ-complete.