The l-syntax structure of a verb determines the clausal confi
guration in which a verb can appear in. That is, the
verb class determines a cluster of syntactic behaviors such
as the auxiliary selection in compound tensed forms:
unaccusatives selects essere (to be) while unergativesand
transitives avere to have. The relations holding within the
elements of the lexical VP influence the derivation through t
he higher clausal functional projections and determine
the overt syntax of a sentence [2]. The main purpose of this st
udy is to investigate whether the l-syntax truly
influences the higher syntactic derivation in children’s sp
ontaneous speech and at which stage this phenomenon
takes place in the acquisition of Italian.
