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Light verb: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "In generative grammar, a '''light verb''' is a verb that doesn't contribute much semantic content, but plays a more structural role. Its meaning is dependent on the meaning of its complement. For example, in English, "Mary kisses John" can be rephrased as "Mary gives John a kiss" with a light verb "give". In a syntax tree, light verbs are denoted 𝑣 ("'''little v'''") and "light verb phrases" are denoted 𝑣P. This verb may be an actual word, but sometimes it's an u...") |
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In generative grammar, a '''light verb''' is a verb that doesn't contribute much semantic content, but plays a more structural role. Its meaning is dependent on the meaning of its complement. For example, in English, "Mary kisses John" can be rephrased as "Mary gives John a kiss" with a light verb "give". | In generative grammar, a '''light verb''' is a verb that doesn't contribute much semantic content, but plays a more structural role. Its meaning is dependent on the meaning of its complement. For example, in English, "Mary kisses John" can be rephrased as "Mary gives John a kiss" with a light verb "give". | ||
In a syntax tree, light verbs are denoted 𝑣 ("'''little v'''") and "light verb phrases" are denoted 𝑣P. | In a [[syntax]] tree, light verbs are denoted 𝑣 ("'''little v'''") and "light verb phrases" are denoted 𝑣P. | ||
This verb may be an actual word, but sometimes it's an unpronounced node in the syntax tree that we know exists by analogy with other languages. | This verb may be an actual word, but sometimes it's an unpronounced node in the syntax tree that we know exists by analogy with other languages. | ||
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Light verbs help us assign structure to sentences with three participants. In certain theories of syntax, "Mary gives John a book" is analyzed as having a [[deep structure]] like "[Mary ''CAUSE'' [John give a book]]", where ''CAUSE'' is an unpronounced light verb. This is the reason for their inclusion in Toaq.<ref>(I think.) — | Light verbs help us assign structure to sentences with three participants. In certain theories of syntax, "Mary gives John a book" is analyzed as having a [[deep structure]] like "[Mary ''CAUSE'' [John give a book]]", where ''CAUSE'' is an unpronounced light verb. This is the reason for their inclusion in Toaq.<ref>(I think.) — [[User:Lynn]]</ref> | ||
In Toaq, {{t|nä}} and {{t|gö}} are "pronounced" light verbs, but in fact every clause contains an unpronounced light verb: | In Toaq, {{t|nä}} and {{t|gö}} are "pronounced" light verbs, but in fact every clause contains an unpronounced light verb: | ||