Sentences as predicates
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María Jesús Fernández Leborans
Abstract
The construction <muy de + infinitive> is interpreted as a gradable individuallevel predicate (IL-predicate), compatible with the copula ser but not with the copula estar. This supports the idea that the ser and estar distinction is a particular manifestation of Carlson’s (1977) distinction between individuallevel and stage-level predicates (SL-predicates). We propose that the habitual reading of the imperfective aspect of the infinitive in this construction is crucial to interpret the non-finite sentence as a characterizing property. Specifically, we distinguish two cases: animate subjects admit copular predicates containing infinitive sentences with an actualized habitual aspect; inanimate subjects are admitted in constructions with imperfective predicates interpreted as gnomic or deontic habituals. We propose two different syntactic structures for each of these cases and explain the contribution of the preposition de ‘of ’ to the licensing of the non-finite clause as a characterizing predicate.
Abstract
The construction <muy de + infinitive> is interpreted as a gradable individuallevel predicate (IL-predicate), compatible with the copula ser but not with the copula estar. This supports the idea that the ser and estar distinction is a particular manifestation of Carlson’s (1977) distinction between individuallevel and stage-level predicates (SL-predicates). We propose that the habitual reading of the imperfective aspect of the infinitive in this construction is crucial to interpret the non-finite sentence as a characterizing property. Specifically, we distinguish two cases: animate subjects admit copular predicates containing infinitive sentences with an actualized habitual aspect; inanimate subjects are admitted in constructions with imperfective predicates interpreted as gnomic or deontic habituals. We propose two different syntactic structures for each of these cases and explain the contribution of the preposition de ‘of ’ to the licensing of the non-finite clause as a characterizing predicate.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Ser and estar 1
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Ser and estar and aspect
- More than a copula 23
- Ser, estar and two different modifiers 51
- Sentences as predicates 85
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Ser and estar beyond aspect
- The inference of temporal persistence and the individual/stage level distinction 119
- Location and the estar/ser alternation 147
- What do Spanish copulas have in common with Tibetan evidentials? 173
- On word order in Spanish copular sentences 203
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The extension and loss of copulas
- Origins and development of adjectival passives in Spanish 239
- Eventive and stative passives and copula selection in Canadian and American Heritage Speaker Spanish 267
- The development and use of the Spanish copula with adjectives by Korean-speaking learners 293
- Index 325
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Ser and estar 1
-
Ser and estar and aspect
- More than a copula 23
- Ser, estar and two different modifiers 51
- Sentences as predicates 85
-
Ser and estar beyond aspect
- The inference of temporal persistence and the individual/stage level distinction 119
- Location and the estar/ser alternation 147
- What do Spanish copulas have in common with Tibetan evidentials? 173
- On word order in Spanish copular sentences 203
-
The extension and loss of copulas
- Origins and development of adjectival passives in Spanish 239
- Eventive and stative passives and copula selection in Canadian and American Heritage Speaker Spanish 267
- The development and use of the Spanish copula with adjectives by Korean-speaking learners 293
- Index 325
