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In:Null or Nothing: Zero elements in Romance syntax and morphology
Edited by Peter Herbeck and Natascha Pomino
[Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today 291] 2026
► pp. 88–110

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V-N compounds in French

An analysis without nulls

ORCiD logo with link | University of Amsterdam
Published online: 27 February 2026
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.291.04sle
Abstract
In recent analyses of exocentric compounds, the null categorizer n and pro have been used. This paper contributes to the discussion on the desirability of the use of nulls in morphology in proposing an analysis of exocentric compounds in French without nulls. It is claimed that with a slight adaptation of Borer’s exoskeletal model, the number and nature of the functional projections dominating the roots suffice for an analysis of V-N compounds without nulls and can account for the differences between V-N compounds and nominalized infinitives and V → N conversions. It is argued that the features of the Gender Phrase account for the difference between default masculine and animate V-N compounds. The analysis is extended to P-N compounds.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Some previous analyses of exocentric compounds
  • 3.Nominalized infinitives and V → N conversions
  • 4.V-N compounds in French
    • 4.1An analysis of V-N compounds without nulls
    • 4.2The gender of V-N compounds
    • 4.3P-N compounds
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
References (33)
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