Chapter 5 Verb Phrases
In this chapter we are going to take a detailed look at the structure of the phrase that is in some ways the core of the clause. In this phrase the basic argument structure of the clause is formed which is made up of the verb, acting as the predicate, its arguments and adjoined modifiers. Thus, it is within the VP that Θ-role assignment takes place. We will also see that it is within the VP that other aspects of semantic interpretation are represented, such as event structure and aspect. Other aspects of clausal interpretation, such as tense, modality and force are introduced in structures built on top of the VP and we will deal with these in the following chapters.
The principles of Theta Theory introduced in chapter 2 will play a large part in determining the structure of the VP, alongside those of X-bar theory. In particular we will be guided by the Uniform Theta-role Assignment Hypothesis (UTAH), which as we explained in chapter 2 assumes that specific Θ-roles are assigned to similar positions in all structures. Thus, if we find evidence that a particular Θ-role, theme for example, is assigned to a particular position in one structure, then by the UTAH we should assume that it is assigned to this position in all structures where it is found. In many ways this is a very simple theory, but it does lead to the assumption of somewhat more abstract structures than might have been guessed at prior to analysis. However, we will demonstrate that the more abstract structures have quite a few advantages over what might at first seem to be more straightforward analyses and these advantages can be used to independently motivate the analyses and thus support the assumption of the UTAH. We will start our discussion with the simpler cases and work our way to the more complex ones, though this order of presentation might not be the usual one we find in grammar books.
The notions of event structure and aspect are new and we will spend a little time introducing them in the next section.
5.1 Event Structure and Aspect
5.2 Verb Types
5.2.1 Unaccusative verbs
5.2.2 Light verbs
5.2.3 Ergative verbs
5.2.3.1 Potential problems
5.2.3.2 Light verbs and ergatives
5.2.3.3 Unaccusatives and ergatives
5.2.4 Transitive verbs
5.2.4.1 Evidence from passives
5.2.4.2 Extended projections
5.2.4.3 Agent and experiencer subjects
5.2.4.4 Multiple light verbs
5.2.5 Intransitive verbs
5.2.6 Multiple complement verbs
5.2.7 Phrasal verbs
5.2.8 Verbs with clausal complements
5.2.9 Summary
5.3.1 The auxiliary as a dummy
5.3.2 The nature of the aspectual morpheme
5.4 Adverbs, PPs and Clausal modifiers
5.4.1 Adverbs
5.4.2 PP modifiers
5.4.3 Clausal modifiers
5.5 Conclusion