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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (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 prefix un-
- 4. Restriction of by phrase complements
- 5. Analysis of the role of prepositions
- 6. Adjectival passive constructions with be and get
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper investigates the differences between verbal and adjectival passive constructions in English. It aims to determine whether adjectival passives should be classified as a type of passive construction or as a derivative form. The study explores the grammatical and semantic distinctions between these two types of passives.
- Distinguishing between verbal and adjectival passives.
- Analyzing the syntactic and semantic differences between the two passive constructions.
- Examining grammatical tests to identify adjectival passives.
- Exploring the role of prepositions in adjectival passive constructions.
- Investigating adjectival passive constructions using "be" and "get".
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by outlining the ongoing debate surrounding verbal and adjectival passives. It establishes the core question of whether adjectival passives are truly passive constructions or merely derivatively so. The chapter introduces key definitions and perspectives from linguists like Åfarli and Emonds, focusing on the characterization of passive sentences and methods for distinguishing between verbal and adjectival forms. The use of LF (Logical Form) and PF (Phonological Form) as distinguishing factors is highlighted, setting the groundwork for the subsequent chapters' detailed analysis of the distinctions between these two types of passive constructions. The chapter clearly states the paper's main objectives: to investigate the differences between verbal and adjectival passives and to determine if adjectives are derived from verbs, and if this derivation causes ambiguity.
2. Syntactic and Semantic Differences: This chapter delves into the core syntactic and semantic differences between verbal and adjectival passives. It critiques the perspective that adjectival passives aren't true passives, emphasizing the complexity caused by overlapping lexical forms. The chapter uses the example "the glass was broken" to illustrate the ambiguity, clarifying the distinction between a complex-intransitive construction (adjectival) and a dynamic passive (verbal). It introduces the contrasting syntactic structures, highlighting the absence of theme-role movement into the subject position in adjectival passives, in contrast to verbal passives. The differences in thematic role assignment and the deletion of the agent (external argument) in adjectival passives are carefully explained, laying the groundwork for further chapters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Adjectival passives, verbal passives, syntactic differences, semantic differences, grammatical tests, passive constructions, be, get, prepositions, LF (Logical Form), PF (Phonological Form), English grammar.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Verbal and Adjectival Passives in English
What is the main topic of this paper?
This paper investigates the differences between verbal and adjectival passive constructions in English. It aims to determine whether adjectival passives should be classified as a type of passive construction or as a derivative form, exploring the grammatical and semantic distinctions between them.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include distinguishing between verbal and adjectival passives; analyzing their syntactic and semantic differences; examining grammatical tests to identify adjectival passives; exploring the role of prepositions in adjectival passive constructions; and investigating adjectival passive constructions using "be" and "get".
What are the different chapters and their respective focuses?
Chapter 1 (Introduction): Sets the stage by outlining the debate surrounding verbal and adjectival passives, introducing key definitions and perspectives, and establishing the paper's objectives. It highlights the use of LF (Logical Form) and PF (Phonological Form) as distinguishing factors. Chapter 2 (Syntactic and Semantic Differences): Delves into the core syntactic and semantic differences between the two passive types. It uses examples to illustrate ambiguity and explains the contrasting syntactic structures and thematic role assignment. Subsequent chapters (3-6) explore grammatical tests (modification of adjectives, replacement of 'be', addition of 'un-', restriction of by-phrase complements, analysis of prepositions, and adjectival passive constructions with 'be' and 'get').
What grammatical tests are used to identify adjectival passives?
The paper explores several grammatical tests, including modification of certain adjectives, replacement of the verb "be," and the addition of the prefix "un-". These tests help distinguish adjectival passives from verbal passives.
What is the role of prepositions in adjectival passive constructions?
The paper analyzes the role of prepositions in differentiating between adjectival and verbal passive constructions, highlighting their contribution to the overall syntactic and semantic distinctions.
How are "be" and "get" used in adjectival passive constructions?
The paper investigates the use of "be" and "get" in adjectival passive constructions, examining how their usage contributes to the overall understanding and classification of these constructions.
What are the key differences between verbal and adjectival passives?
Key differences lie in their syntactic structures (theme-role movement, absence of agent), semantic interpretations (dynamic vs. stative meaning), and the results of grammatical tests. Verbal passives show a clear passive structure with an agent potentially recoverable, whereas adjectival passives behave more like adjectives modifying a noun.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Adjectival passives, verbal passives, syntactic differences, semantic differences, grammatical tests, passive constructions, be, get, prepositions, LF (Logical Form), PF (Phonological Form), English grammar.
What is the overall conclusion or argument of the paper (as previewed)?
The paper argues for a careful distinction between verbal and adjectival passives, highlighting the complexities arising from overlapping lexical forms and emphasizing the need for detailed grammatical and semantic analysis to avoid ambiguity and ensure accurate classification.
- Citar trabajo
- Vincey Vattachirayil John (Autor), 2010, On Adjectival Passives in English, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/167193
