2003•Journal of Sichuan International Studies UniversityRequires access
A semantic study of change-of-state verbs in English
Xie Ying-guan
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Abstract
A change-of-state verb is a verb whose meaning involves a change from one state to another. The semantic structure of a change-of-state verb is related to its inherent aspectual properties. Some such verbs may involve causative alternation, that is, their objects when they are used as transitive verbs can be used as the subjects of the sentences in which they are used as intransitive verbs. Extemally-caused-change-of-state verbs and internally-caused-change-of-state verbs have different semantic structures.