Postverbal-only focus as evidence for biclausal structure in Hungarian
Postverbal-only focus as evidence for biclausal structure in Hungarian

Summary/Abstract: In Hungarian, focused constituents appear in a preverbal position. Postverbal focus is possible, but only in multiple focus constructions, in the presence of a preverbal focus. The present paper discusses constructions with only post-verbal focus and argues that what seem to be monoclausal patterns are bi-clausal underlyingly, where the postverbal focus is actually in the preverbal position in a non-finite clause. The biclausal analysis is supported by the ob-ligatory modal interpretation of such sentences. The embedded verb is claimed to undergo movement to the matrix clause to support a bound zero modal with the postverbal position reflecting the scope properties of the sen-tence. This analysis makes it possible to account for other constructions with covert modal meanings in a more principled manner as well.

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