small clause (SC)

A term used in GOVERNMENT-BINDING THEORY for a CLAUSE that contains neither a FINITE VERB nor an INFINITIVAL to. Lacking both C and I, its STRUCTURE can be defined as [NP XP], where XP is an AP, NP, etc. Examples include John considered [Mary foolish], Mary considered [John a fool], I want [him off my boat] and I saw [him do it].