documenting and reorganizing Verb

lib/resource-1.0/abstract/Verb.gf

@@ -1,36 +1,70 @@
+--1 The construction of verb phrases
+
 abstract Verb = Cat ** {
 
+--2 Complementization rules
+
+-- Verb phrases are constructed from verbs by providing their
+-- complements. There is one rule for each verb category.
+
   fun
-    UseV    : V -> VP ;
-    ComplV2 : V2 -> NP -> VP ;
-    ComplV3 : V3 -> NP -> NP -> VP ;
+    UseV     : V   -> VP ;              -- sleep
+    ComplV2  : V2  -> NP -> VP ;        -- use it
+    ComplV3  : V3  -> NP -> NP -> VP ;  -- send a message to her
 
-    ComplVV : VV -> VP -> VP ;
-    ComplVS : VS -> S  -> VP ;
-    ComplVQ : VQ -> QS -> VP ;
+    ComplVV  : VV  -> VP -> VP ;        -- want to run
+    ComplVS  : VS  -> S  -> VP ;        -- know that she runs
+    ComplVQ  : VQ  -> QS -> VP ;        -- ask if she runs
 
-    ComplVA : VA -> AP -> VP ;
-    ComplV2A : V2A -> NP -> AP -> VP ;
+    ComplVA  : VA  -> AP -> VP ;        -- look red
+    ComplV2A : V2A -> NP -> AP -> VP ;  -- paint the house red
 
-    ReflV2  : V2 -> VP ;
-    PassV2  : V2 -> Comp ; --- overgen (V2 with prep)
+--2 Other ways of forming verb phrases
 
-    UseComp : Comp -> VP ;
+-- Verb phrases can also be constructed reflexively and from
+-- copula-preceded complements.
 
-    AdvVP   : VP -> Adv -> VP ; -- here
-    AdVVP   : AdV -> VP -> VP ; -- always
+    ReflV2   : V2 -> VP ;               -- use itself
+    UseComp  : Comp -> VP ;             -- be warm
 
-    CompAP  : AP  -> Comp ;
-    CompNP  : NP  -> Comp ;
-    CompAdv : Adv -> Comp ;
+-- Passivization of two-place verbs is another way to use
+-- them. In many languages, the result is a participle that
+-- is used as complement to a copula ("is used"), but other
+-- auxiliary verbs are possible (Ger. "wird angewendet", It.
+-- "viene usato"), as well as special verb forms (Fin. "käytetään",
+-- Swe. "används").
+--
+-- *Note*. the rule can be overgenerating, since the $V2$ need not
+-- take a direct object.
 
-    UseVV   : VV -> V2 ;
-    UseVQ   : VQ -> V2 ;
-    UseVS   : VS -> V2 ;
+    PassV2   : V2 -> VP ;               -- be used
 
-    EmbedS  : S  -> SC ;
-    EmbedQS : QS -> SC ;
-    EmbedVP : VP -> SC ;
+-- Adverbs can be added to verb phrases. Many languages make
+-- a distinction between adverbs that are attached in the end
+-- vs. next to (or before) the verb.
 
+    AdvVP    : VP -> Adv -> VP ;        -- sleep here
+    AdVVP    : AdV -> VP -> VP ;        -- always sleep
+
+-- *Agents of passives* are constructed as adverbs with the
+-- preposition [Structural Structural.html]$.8agent_Prep$.
+
+
+--2 Complements to copula
+
+-- Adjectival phrases, noun phrases, and adverbs can be used.
+
+    CompAP   : AP  -> Comp ;            -- (be) small
+    CompNP   : NP  -> Comp ;            -- (be) a soldier
+    CompAdv  : Adv -> Comp ;            -- (be) here
+
+--2 Coercions
+
+-- Verbs can change subcategorization patterns in systematic ways,
+-- but this is very much language-dependent. The following two
+-- work in all the languages we cover.
+
+    UseVQ   : VQ -> V2 ;                -- ask (a question)
+    UseVS   : VS -> V2 ;                -- know (a secret)
 
 }