Basic English Grammar with Exercises

Suggested Answers and Hints - Chapter 5

involves three sub-events, there are two light verb phrases erected on top of the

thematic verb, thus there is a specifier position available for the goal to move into.

Q8 Clausal complements of verbs can be both finite or non-finite, declarative or

interrogative. When a verb takes a DP and a clausal complement, the DP always

precedes the clause. This is assumed to occur because it receives case from the verb in

the light verb position. If so, the clausal complement cannot have occupied that

position originally. (Clauses are not subject to the Case Filter anyway.) Furthermore,

in some cases the subject of the complement clause depends on the verb in the higher

clause, in cases of Exceptional Case Marking.

Q9 Unaccusative verbs, light verbs, ergative verbs, transitive verbs, intransitive

verbs, multiple complement verbs, verbs with clausal complements, phrasal verbs.

Exercise 1

expletive ‘there’ and ‘it’: a, d, e, f, g, h, i (the subject), j

Exercise 2

In order to determine the subcategory of the verbs in the sentences, the characteristics

of different verb types are listed first.

Unaccusative verbs:

One argument

Theme argument

There construction possible

Locative inversion construction possible

Locative inversion + there construction possible

Ergative verbs:

One argument

Theme/patient argument

There construction not possible

Locative inversion construction not possible

Transitive usage possible

Transitive verbs:

Two arguments

Agent/experiencer and patient/theme arguments

Passivisation possible

Intransitive verbs:

One argument

Agent/experiencer argument

Cognate object possible

No passivisation (at least in English)