The major analyses of the negative inversion (NI) constructions in the
Minimalist/Principles-and-Parameters theory claim that the initial negative expression occupies
[Spec,FocP]. In this paper, I argue that there is a body of data which are problematic for the
Minimalist/Principles-and-Parameters analyses but that HPSG can provide a fairly straightforward
account of the facts. The use of hierarchically organised network of clausal types allows us to
accommodate not just the construction-specific properties of NI sentences but also the regularities
that they share with other constructions with subject-auxiliary inversion.
Maintained by Stefan Müller
Created: October 15, 2012
Last modified: January 09, 2019