Verb.html

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<i> Produced by 
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(c) Aarne Ranta (aarne@cs.chalmers.se) 2002 under GNU GPL.
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<p>
<h1> The construction of verb phrases</h1>

<pre>
  abstract Verb = Cat ** {
  
    flags coding = utf8 ;
</pre>

<h2> Complementization rules</h2>
Verb phrases are constructed from verbs by providing their
complements. There is one rule for each verb category.
<pre>
    data
      UseV     : V   -> VP ;        -- sleep
  
      ComplVV  : VV  -> VP -> VP ;  -- want to run
      ComplVS  : VS  -> S  -> VP ;  -- say that she runs
      ComplVQ  : VQ  -> QS -> VP ;  -- wonder who runs
      ComplVA  : VA  -> AP -> VP ;  -- they become red
  
      SlashV2a : V2        -> VPSlash ;  -- love (it)
      Slash2V3 : V3  -> NP -> VPSlash ;  -- give it (to her)
      Slash3V3 : V3  -> NP -> VPSlash ;  -- give (it) to her
  
      SlashV2V : V2V -> VP -> VPSlash ;  -- beg (her) to go
      SlashV2S : V2S -> S  -> VPSlash ;  -- answer (to him) that it is good
      SlashV2Q : V2Q -> QS -> VPSlash ;  -- ask (him) who came
      SlashV2A : V2A -> AP -> VPSlash ;  -- paint (it) red
  
      ComplSlash : VPSlash -> NP -> VP ; -- love it
  
      SlashVV    : VV  -> VPSlash -> VPSlash ;       -- want to buy
      SlashV2VNP : V2V -> NP -> VPSlash -> VPSlash ; -- beg me to buy
</pre>

<h2> Other ways of forming verb phrases</h2>
Verb phrases can also be constructed reflexively and from
copula-preceded complements.
<pre>
      ReflVP   : VPSlash -> VP ;         -- love himself
      UseComp  : Comp -> VP ;            -- be warm
</pre>

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 (<i>is used</i>), but other
auxiliary verbs are possible (Ger. <i>wird angewendet</i>, It.
<i>viene usato</i>), as well as special verb forms (Fin. <i>käytetään</i>,
Swe. <i>används</i>).
<p>
<b>Note</b>. the rule can be overgenerating, since the <tt>V2</tt> need not
take a direct object.
<pre>
      PassV2   : V2 -> VP ;               -- be loved
</pre>

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.
<pre>
      AdvVP    : VP -> Adv -> VP ;        -- sleep here
      AdVVP    : AdV -> VP -> VP ;        -- always sleep
  
      AdvVPSlash : VPSlash -> Adv -> VPSlash ;  -- use (it) here
      AdVVPSlash : AdV -> VPSlash -> VPSlash ;  -- always use (it)
</pre>

<b>Agents of passives</b> are constructed as adverbs with the
preposition [Structural Structural.html]<tt>.8agent_Prep</tt>.
<h2> Complements to copula</h2>
Adjectival phrases, noun phrases, and adverbs can be used.
<pre>
      CompAP   : AP  -> Comp ;            -- (be) small
      CompNP   : NP  -> Comp ;            -- (be) the man
      CompAdv  : Adv -> Comp ;            -- (be) here
      CompCN   : CN  -> Comp ;            -- (be) a man/men
</pre>

Copula alone
<pre>
      UseCopula : VP ;                    -- be
  }
</pre>

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