Unaccusativity in English
Modern English only uses one perfect auxiliary (have), although archaic examples like "He is fallen/come" reflect the use of be with unaccusative verbs in earlier stages of the language.
The identification of unaccusative verbs in English is therefore based on other criteria. For example, many unaccusatives alternate with a corresponding transitive construction where the unaccusative subject appears in direct object position:
- The ice melted. ≈ The sun melted the ice.
- The window broke. ≈ The golf ball broke the window.
Unaccusative past participles can be used as nominal modifiers with active meaning, while unergative past participles cannot:
- unaccusative: the melted snow, the departed guests, the fallen soldiers
- unergative: *the shouted victim, *the slept child, *the hesitated leader
Finally, unaccusative subjects can generally be modified by a resultative adjunct. This is a property shared by direct objects and passive subjects, but not shared by the subjects of unergative and transitive verbs.
- unaccusative subject: The vase broke into pieces.
- direct object: John broke the vase into pieces.
- passive subject: The vase was broken into pieces.
- unergative subject: *John dined full/to death/two pounds heavier.
- subject of transitive verb: *John ate the brownies full/to death/two pounds heavier.
Read more about this topic: Unaccusative Verb
Famous quotes containing the word english:
“The French courage proceeds from vanity—the German from phlegm—the Turkish from fanaticism & opium—the Spanish from pride—the English from coolness—the Dutch from obstinacy—the Russian from insensibility—but the Italian from anger.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)