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Danish There-Constructions with Intransitive Verbs
Anne Bjerre, Tavs Bjerre
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Abstract
In this paper we argue that the distribution of verbs in there-constructions is de-termined by a “locative ” constraint. We show that an important function of the there-construction is to “locate ” the logical subject referent at a place or in a state. This ac-commodates an unacussative interpretation. However, agentive manner of motion verbs, typically analyzed as unergative verbs, also appear in there-constructions in Danish. We introduce a lexical rule inserting there. In order for our lexical rule to account for all verbs appearing in there-constructions, including the agentive manner of motion verbs, a non-resultative complex event structure is proposed for these verbs, representing both the unacussative existence or appearance meaning and the agentive meaning of these verbs.