Question

For the sentence [Li knows [CP₁ that you believe [CP₂ that Mo thinks CP₃ that Jo likes Kai]]]. which of the following statements can be held to apply?

• A. CP₃  is embedded within CP₂  and CP₂ is embedded within CP₁ .
• B. The sentence demonstrates the use of CP-recursion.
• C. In this complex sentence, the matrix verb takes CP₁ as an object. 
• D. CP₃ is the object of the embedded verb think but CP₂ is not an object.

Hint:

For nested ``that''-clauses, identify each selecting verb and its CP complement: knows \(\rightarrow\) CP₁ , believe \(\rightarrow\) CP₂, thinks \(\rightarrow\) CP₃ . Recursion = repeated embedding of the same category.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A, B, C

Step 1: Bracket structure and embedding. 

We have nested complement clauses: CP₃ (``that Jo likes Kai'') is the complement of thinks, embedded inside CP₂ ;  CP₂ is itself the complement of believe, embedded inside CP₁ . \(\Rightarrow\) (A) True.

Step 2: CP-recursion. 

Because CPs occur inside other CPs repeatedly (CP₃ \(\subset\) CP₂ \(\subset\) CP₁ ), the sentence exemplifies recursive CP embedding. \(\Rightarrow\) (B) True.

Step 3: Matrix predicate's complement. 

The matrix verb knows selects a sentential complement, namely CP₁ . Hence the matrix verb takes CP₁ as its object/complement. \(\Rightarrow\) (C) True.

Step 4: Why (D) is false. 

Within CP₂ , the verb thinks takes CP₃ as its complement (object). Similarly, believe takes CP₂ as its complement. So CP₂ is an object of believe; (D) is therefore False.

\[ \boxed{Correct Answer: (A), (B), (C)} \]