How to probe expletives

This article argues for a Move-approach to expletive constructions, according to which expletives satisfy the EPP by moving to a designated position rather than by being simply externally merged into it. In particular, I argue that the expletive and its associate form a constituent underlyingly and that the associate carries partitive Case that needs to be checked in accordance with Chomsky's (2008) probe-goal system. Further, I propose that expletives carry only unvalued ϕ-features, unlike ordinary DPs. This makes it possible to accommodate those cases in which expletives appear to be involved in default agreement.