How are theta roles assigned in subordinate clauses?
There’s no real difference between matrix and embedded clauses with respect to how theta roles are assigned. Remember that a theta role is a formal construct covering the intuitive idea of “participant” or “player” in the event. So, if you have an embedded clause like Mary left in I think that Mary left, Mary is the participant in the leaving (and in fact is the agent who initiated the leaving event), so Mary is going to get a theta role from leave. Perhaps another way to say this is that nothing changes with respect to the theta roles a verb (perhaps in a particular sense) assigns whether it is a main verb or an embedded verb. Leave always assigns an Agent theta role, whether it is in Mary left, John thinks that Mary left or John wants Mary to leave. Oct 18: In your trees, you have inconsistencies in modal and auxiliary verb placement: sometimes you have them in a separate verb phrase, and sometimes you just put them directly into T position. Which is correct? And if the first one is
