The verb phrase
The verb phrase
The verb phrase is headed by a verb, which may be an auxiliary verb with a grammatical function, a copula, or a lexical verb. Lexical verbs are avalent, transitive, intransitive, ergative, or unaccusative. The verb may have from zero to three arguments, and in addition various adjuncts. The verb always precedes its complements in base structure (VO), and complements may belong to any phrasal category. A crucial concept is that of the small clause (SC), consisting of a predicate word (non-finite verb, adjective, preposition) with possible complements, and a DP functioning as a SC subject. With intransitive and possibly with unaccusative verbs, the SC subject is the surface subject; with transitive verbs it is the object. The verbal particle is a special type of intransitive preposition. The indirect object is generated as the specifier of a lower VP. Free adjuncts, whether predicate or adverbial, are right-adjoined to VP.
Keywords: auxiliary, copula, transitive verb, intransitive verb, ergative verb, unaccusative verb, adjunct, small clause, particle, indirect object
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