There have been various discussions on verbal passives and adjectival passive constructions. Adjectival passives always have stative interpretations, whereas verbal passives can either have a dynamic or a stative interpretation. The question is whether adjectival passive constructions are supposed to be a type of passive constructions, or merely passives in a derivative sense (cf. Huddleston and Pullum, 2002: 1436f). Before researching the differences between the both passive constructions, the main characterization of passive, in general, should be made clear. Åfarli (1992: 8) provides a brief summary of it:
[...] every sentence one might reasonably want to call a passive may be minimally characterized as follows:
(22) a. Relative to its active counterpart, the passive sentence is marked with special verb morphology.
b. The subject of the active sentence never remains subject in the passive counterpart.
This statement is also supported by Emonds (2006: 17) who comments that the stress is laid on the role of the subject phrase and its relation to passive morphology. According to this characterization of passives, it could be asserted that adjectival passives are only a part of a verbal passive construction. Except, it can be proven that adjectives and verbal participles can be distinguished. Emonds (2006: 20) suggests a formula to distinguish between verbal and adjectival passives:
a. In adjectival passives, the head [A-en] is present in both LF and PF.
b. In verbal passives, [A-en] is absent in LF and present only in PF.
The suffix –en refers to the simple past in English but it is also the given form for adjectives, which leads to the ambiguity between verbal passives and adjectival passives. The LF, however, helps us to understand whether a passive has an ongoing (dynamic) or a completed (stative) interpretation.
In this paper the main focus is on the differences between verbal and adjectival passives. The following study will show how far adjectival predicatives in a passive construction can be considered as passives. Another aim of this paper is to find out whether adjectives are a derivation from verbs, and whether the derivation is the reason that it is impossible to distinguish them.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Syntactic and Semantic Differences
3. Grammatical Tests for Adjectival status
3.1. Modification of Certain Adjectives
3.2. Replacement of be.
3.3. Addition of prefin un-
4. Restriction of by phrase complements
5. Analysis of the role of prepositions
6. Adjectival passive constructions with be and get
7. Conclusion
8. References
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this work is to investigate the linguistic differences between verbal and adjectival passive constructions in English. The study seeks to determine whether adjectival passives should be classified as distinct passive constructions or merely as complex-intransitive structures, while also evaluating the reliability of specific grammatical tests used to distinguish between these two forms.
- Syntactic and semantic analysis of verbal versus adjectival passives
- Evaluation of grammatical tests (gradability, substitution, and prefixation)
- The influence of prepositional choice (e.g., by, at, with) on construction status
- Comparison of be-passives and get-passives in relation to aspect and dynamism
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Modification of Certain Adjectives
Huddleston and Pullum (2002: 1436f) elucidate the grammatical tests which can simplify distinguishing verbal and adjectival status of passives. The first test is made by adding intensifiers to the related past participle or adjective. Adjectives can be gradable so that modification with very, too is a possibility to clarify, if a specific predicative complement is an adjectival predicative, as verbs are not gradable at all. The only exception is when an adverb, for instance, much is included in a complement. It’s a sufficient method but not a reliable one to test the adjectival status because only certain adjectives are gradable (Huddleston and Pullum, 2002: 1436). This is reasoned by Emonds (2006: 21) with the explanation that fully lexicalised adjectives, for instance, affected, worried, or inhabited are suffixed in the lexicon with the help of derivation. Therefore they are gradable, while other adjectives do not derive from verbal roots by suffixation but are formed in the syntax and hence they do not permit degree words. Furthermore, he presents a minimal requirement for grammatical modification:
Many, perhaps all, items that modify only lexical category X0 (here A) require that this X0 be lexicalized throughout a derivation.
Hence, verbs are not gradable as well due to the absence of the –en suffix on a verbal passive LF so that these forms do not permit degree words. However this statement is only correct to a certain limit according to Ackema (1999: 156f). As already mentioned and confirmed by other linguists, verbs can be in fact modified by very much as presented by Ackema:
(155) a. Elizabeth was very much annoyed (by Darcy)
b. Elizabeth was very annoyed (all day)
The first example denotes a verbal interpretation, whereas the latter one has an adjectival reading. The verbal passive conveys that Darcy annoyed Elizabeth very much, while the adjectival passive infers that Elizabeth was very annoyed because something went wrong that she did not expect. In addition to that there is no agent in the adjectival reading because one cannot infer who or what annoyed Elizabeth.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on differentiating verbal and adjectival passive constructions, establishing the theoretical framework and the main linguistic objectives.
2. Syntactic and Semantic Differences: Explores the structural ambiguities between verbal and adjectival readings, highlighting how different syntactic movements impact the interpretation of passive constructions.
3. Grammatical Tests for Adjectival status: Examines three diagnostic tools—modification by intensifiers, replacement by copula verbs like 'seem', and the addition of the prefix 'un-'—to identify adjectival passives.
3.1. Modification of Certain Adjectives: Analyzes the use of gradability and degree words as a test for identifying whether a passive participle functions as an adjective.
3.2. Replacement of be.: Investigates how replacing the auxiliary 'be' with verbs like 'remain' or 'look' can isolate adjectival complements that do not permit verbal passive meanings.
3.3. Addition of prefin un-: Discusses how the attachment of the negative prefix 'un-' serves as an indicator of adjectival status for participial forms.
4. Restriction of by phrase complements: Demonstrates that 'by' phrases are strongly associated with verbal passives and rarely occur in adjectival constructions, which typically prefer stative interpretations.
5. Analysis of the role of prepositions: Shows how prepositions other than 'by' (such as 'at' or 'with') function in adjectival constructions to convey specific meanings compared to the general 'by' agent.
6. Adjectival passive constructions with be and get: Compares the dynamic nature of 'get'-passives with the stative potential of 'be'-passives to show why 'get' is more restricted in adjectival usage.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes findings, suggesting that adjectival passives are best viewed as complex-intransitive structures while acknowledging the limitations of grammatical tests in achieving total clarity.
8. References: Lists the academic literature and linguistic sources cited throughout the paper.
Keywords
Adjectival passives, Verbal passives, Syntax, Semantics, Gradability, Copula verbs, Prepositional complements, Morphosyntax, Ambiguity, Stative interpretation, Dynamic interpretation, Linguistic analysis, Passive constructions, Participles, Lexicalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the linguistic status of adjectival passives in English, focusing on the syntactic and semantic challenges in distinguishing them from verbal passives.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the structural differences between dynamic and stative passives, the role of specific grammatical tests in identifying adjectival status, and the influence of lexical choice and prepositional phrases on passive interpretations.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if adjectival passives represent a unique construction type or are merely derivative, and to assess how reliably they can be identified through specific grammatical diagnostic tests.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a comparative linguistic approach, applying diagnostic tests such as gradability tests, copula substitution, and prefixation analysis, alongside an investigation of syntactic structures and thematic roles.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the theoretical distinction between verbal and adjectival passives, specific grammatical diagnostic tests, the restriction of agentive 'by' phrases, the semantic roles of other prepositions, and the contrast between 'be' and 'get' passive constructions.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as adjectival passives, verbal passives, syntax, semantics, ambiguity, gradability, and morphosyntax.
Why is the 'by' phrase restricted in adjectival passives?
The 'by' phrase is restricted because it typically introduces a dynamic agent, which is inconsistent with the stative nature of adjectival passives.
How does the author distinguish between 'be' and 'get' passives?
The author distinguishes them by noting that 'get' is intrinsically associated with dynamic events and is therefore rarely compatible with stative adjectival passives, unlike 'be' which can accommodate both interpretations.
What does the inclusion of German examples aim to prove?
The German examples are used to illustrate how synonymous expressions can be influenced by habitual usage, providing further evidence for the semantic nuances that distinguish adjectival from verbal constructions.
How does the conclusion summarize the findings?
The conclusion suggests that while grammatical tests are helpful, they are not infallible; it posits that adjectival passives are likely complex-intransitive constructions and highlights how prepositional choices reflect the stative versus dynamic nature of the underlying meaning.
- Quote paper
- Vincey Vattachirayil John (Author), 2010, On Adjectival Passives in English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/167193
