Earticle

In this paper, we explore the intervention paradox in a range of A-movement constructions in English, French, and Italian. Traditionally, the interaction between raising and PP experiencers has been explained as a defective intervention constraint in Chomsky(2000). However, the defective intervention constraint cannot fully explain the intervention paradox. To explain the intervention paradox, we propose that the focus property of PP experiencers can explain the intervention paradox. That is, we assume that PP experiencers with the contrastive focus reading should be moved into TP-internal Focus Phrase, as in English raising constructions, but those without the contrastive focus reading cannot, as in French and Italian. Thus, PP experiencers in Italian raising constructions are in A-positions, which are visible in A-movement, causing the intervention effect. However, those in English raising constructions are in the Spec of TP-internal Focus Phrase, which is A'-position. Hence, this allows the embedded TP subjects to move to the Spec of the matrix TP without any intervention effect of PP experiencers