The tree diagram ( 3 ) represents how PRO satisfies the theta criterion of " examine " by being the DP agent in the non-finite clause.
2.
However, in ( 3a ), since no overt DP functions as the agent of " examine ", this should be a violation of the Theta Criterion.
3.
The theta criterion ( or " ?-criterion " ) is the formal device in Government and Binding Theory for enforcing the one to one match between arguments and theta roles.
4.
Such an analysis restores cognate objects to the group of arguments satisfying the theta-criterion, as adjuncts, by definition, are not counted as arguments and therefore need not be restricted by theta criterion.
5.
However, the presence of the null PRO subject, as shown ( 3b ), satisfies the Theta Criterion by having PRO as the DP agent in the sentence and " the patient " as the DP theme.
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