Finitess Phrase (FinP)

♦ The finitess head is the lowest head of the CP and it is in direct contact with the content of the IP. Rizzi (1997: 283) claims that "the choice of the complementizer reflects certain properties of the verbal system of the clause”, in particular its finite/non-finite nature.

♦ Because of its position, FinP can be preceded by Topics or Focus.

(1)        Credo, il tuo libro, di apprezzare molto
            I believe your book of to appreciate it a lot

(Italian, Rizzi 1997: 288, 11b)

 
♦ FinP is often assumed to be the landing site of the verb within the CP (in e.g. Germanic V2, Haegeman 1996, Roberts 2004 a.o.), because it contains “a tense specification which matches the one expressed on the lower inflectional system” (Rizzi 1997: 283).

Main References: Rizzi L. (1997), Roberts I. (2004)