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Bare resultatives

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Abstract

This paper presents an empirical argument against the view that the subject-predicate relation is mediated in syntax by a designated functional head. In particular, it is argued that a theory that allows this relation to be mediated by any head makes available an analysis of verb-resultative combinations as complex predicates. As opposed to its rivals, this analysis derives the following characteristics: (i) Resultative and verb jointly express a single event involving direct causation. (ii) Resultatives form a constituent with the verb. (iii) The head of a resultative complex predicate cannot itself be complex, but the nonhead can. (iv) All thematic information in the head can contribute to the θ-grid of a complex predicate; the nonhead can only contribute the thematic information associated with its external θ-role. (v) The head of a resultative complex predicate expresses an event while the nonhead expresses a resulting state or interrelation. (vi) Resultatives are object-oriented. (vii) Depending on the thematic properties of the head, the object (or derived subject) of a resultative complex predicate must, can, or cannot be interpreted as the internal argument of the verb. (viii) A resultative complex predicate cannot head a double object construction. The analysis extends to expressions like consider intelligent and directional complex predicates headed by verbs of motion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Phonetics and Linguistics, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK, E-mail

    Ad Neeleman & Hans van de Koot

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  1. Ad Neeleman
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  2. Hans van de Koot
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Neeleman, A., van de Koot, H. Bare resultatives. The Journal of Comparative Germanic Linguistics 6, 1–52 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022852519378

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