Jaume Solà i Pujols - Departament de Filologia Catalana ...

(115) AGR developed [ DP typhoons ]Part
In 0 AGR is coindexed with the Partitive DP. In a non-NSL where the Partitive DP
does not have number features, AGR and the Partitive do not share any phi-features. So, when
the AGR-identifier (namely Spec of AGR) is filled by an (expletive) DP, this DP will not share
any features with the Partitive DP either. According to 0.d), there is no binding relation between
the AGR-identifier and the Partitive, so BT does not force the I-subject to be [+anaphoric] (and
in fact prevents it from being so), as is otherwise the case with non-NSLs.
Suppose, however, that the partitive DP has number features. Then the prediction is that
in 0 AGR o and the indefinite DP will share number features. If the AGR identifier (= Spec of
AGR) shared these features, then a Binding relation would stand between Spec of AGR and the
I-subject, and the indefinite DP would be excluded as a BT 3rd principle violation. However,
non-NSLs of this kind can have recourse to the (possibly marked) option admitted in 0.c),
namely that AGR o and Spec of AGR do not agree in number features, so, again, no BT violation
ensues if the Partitive remains in place.
In the preceding account, it is not clear why some non-NSLs allow null expletives (or
even null quasi-Arguments). Perhaps the residual character of AGR-identifiers in indefinite I-
subject constructions, where the AGR-identifier does not display any features, allows for it to be
dropped.
Another possibility could be developed. Suppose non-NSLs can take the marked option
of having AGR o as the AGR-identifier in constructions where the I-subject does not have person
features (i.e., it is Partitive). Suppose this option is subject to the constraint that AGR o is rich
enough to recover the content of the I-subject: if it is the case that the I-subject has number
features, then AGR o has to be rich in number features, i.e., it has to at least distinguish between
3rd-singular and 3rd plural. From this we could derive the following descriptive generalization:
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