The Derivation of Subject-Initial V2

As is well known, many Germanic languages exhibit the so-called verb-second phenomenon (henceforth V2). It is illustrated for Dutch by the data in (1). In both examples, the finite verb kent ‘knows’ is preceded by precisely one constituent. From a structural point of view, then, the verb can be said to occupy the second position in the clause. (1a) is an example of subject-initial V2, as the initial constituent is the subject DP Marie, whereas in (1b) a nonsubject, the direct object DP dat boek ‘that book’, precedes the verb.

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