Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/64763

This paper applies light verb merging theory to analyze the formation and structure of two types of resultative constructions (intransitive resultatives and causative resultatives) in Mandarin Chinese. We show that intransitive resultatives are divided into two types depending on whether the root verb ( V ) merges with the light verb BECOME or CAUSE, and causative resultatives can be formed only from those which merge with BECOME. We further show that subject NPs ( causes ) of causative resultatives are syntactically restricted by V. We therefore propose that, in the formation of causative resultatives, the root verb V which has merged with BECOME moves and merges with CAUSE. A major theoretical implication of the analysis is that it supports the claim that a phonologically empty light verb must become phonetically realized, thereby triggering movement ( head movement ) of the root verb (Chomsky (1995), among others).