# The construction of verb phrases

Last update: 2006-02-27 09:41:31 CET

- Complementization rules
- Other ways of forming verb phrases
- Complements to copula
- Coercions

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        abstract Verb = Cat ** {

## Complementization rules

Verb phrases are constructed from verbs by providing their complements. There is one rule for each verb category.

          fun
            UseV     : V   -> VP ;              -- sleep
            ComplV2  : V2  -> NP -> VP ;        -- use it
            ComplV3  : V3  -> NP -> NP -> VP ;  -- send a message to her

            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 ;        -- look red
            ComplV2A : V2A -> NP -> AP -> VP ;  -- paint the house red

## Other ways of forming verb phrases

Verb phrases can also be constructed reflexively and from copula-preceded complements.

            ReflV2   : V2 -> VP ;               -- use itself
            UseComp  : Comp -> VP ;             -- be warm

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.

            PassV2   : V2 -> VP ;               -- be used

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 `.8agent_Prep`.

## 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

## 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)

        }