Number and person agreement with the subject: Downward Agree vs Spec–Head

Abstract This paper shows that there are fundamental connections in English between nominals headed by a singular noun of the committee type and the singular and plural pronouns they / them and you with regard to their agreement behaviour for number and person. An analysis of these DPs’ internal syntax and the influence of pre- vs post-verbal placement on number and person inflection on the verb is presented that capitalises on the difference between downward Agree and Spec–Head agreement. This analysis offers a syntactic representation for ‘singular they / them ’ which not only explains its agreement sensitivity to linear placement relative to the finite verb but also four additional properties of this complex pronoun.