Negation and Spanish zero event deverbal nominalizations

Abstract

This paper addresses the interaction of the negative particle no with Spanish zero event deverbal nominalizations. Firstly, it is shown that these nouns are compatible with no. Secondly, following a series of grammatical tests, the interpretation(s) that arise with <no + zero event deverbal nominalization> are studied. To this respect, it is brought to light that these nouns do not pattern with verbal predicates, because unlike what happens with the latter, the former do not give rise to the inhibited eventuality reading. Thirdly, it is proposed that this interpretation is not available with zero event deverbal nominalizations because negation blocks the lexicalisation via Phrasal Spellout of the noun’s syntactic configuration in this case.