Syntactic function vt+V[0]
transitive verb with a verbal object (the subject of both verbs being lexically determinate as being the same as that of the main verb)
1. The distinction between a verbal and a sentential (minor sentence) object is sometimes difficult to make. 2. One probably needs to divide this class into those cases where the two verbs have the same subject and those where they do not. But it seems to me that this is properly done in the semantic category assigned, the default category being the one where the subject is the same for both verbs. 3. Whether what follows a vt+V is to be taken as a V or as an action-nominalisation (nab - act) can be a puzzling question. For example, in 輕死 "make light of death" it is not very clear exactly how one would argue that 死 should be declared verbal or action-nominalised. There is also always the profoundly puzzling problem whether a subject of 死 is understood or not. 4. It is important to realise that it always remains relevant to ask what the subject is of the verbal object. One only understands the verbal object V when one recognises its logical subject to be the same as that of the main verb. However, this subject cannot be explicit. Contrast the common syntactic category vt(+N[PIVOT].)+V which exhibits the same surface structure but has quite different semantics.
Usage
- Lexical entries:
- Found 3403 attributions