Chinese Verb Structure Lasted For Research

This dissertation is a study of the formation and evolution of the verb-complement structure (VC structure) with a historical perspective. As the VC structure per se is still not a clear-cut category, involving multiple heterogeneous elements, it has been limited in this paper to only the two patterns of the "verb + resultative complement" structure, and of the VC structure with If. Altogether there are six chapters in this dissertation.Chapter 1 is a brief introduction of the previous and current studies of VC structure.In Chapter 2 we first divide verbs of archaic Chinese into two categories: action vs. state, which are respectively further divided into finer subcategories, each with a description of its syntactic functions and semantic features. With an elaboration of the types, semantic representations and channel of formation of the coordinating verb structure (CV structure) in archaic Chinese, we point out that although working as a syntactic prerequisite for the formation of the VC structure, the CV structure is still a different structure in nature. While the former represents the causative ties between two separated actions or events in one time sequence, the latter displays the internal causative sequence within a single event. Whether or not a CV structure will transform into a VC structure is subject to both structural and semantic restrictions.Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 focus on the formation and evolution of various types of the VC structure, offering a comprehensive and in-depth discussion of each type in their respective time of formation, source of evolution and mechanism of formation.Chapter 5 focuses on the formation and evolution of the VC structure with , or the pattern of "V (O)", offering an analysis of its time of formation, process of evolution and the cause of its decline. The phenomenon that His sometimes used as an aspect marker is also examined. Furthermore, comprehensive description and interpretation are also offered treating with the formation and evolution of the "V (O)" (expressing probability) and its negative forms of "V(O) " and "V (O)".Chapter 6 focuses on the formation and evolution of the VC structure with , offering a new approach to the interpretation of the origin of , and the formation of "V C" structure that it might have two origins, one of which might be direct from the bleaching of denoting "accomplishment", while the other of which the bleaching of denoting "causing". A new classification is offered concerning different types of the VC structure with and a detailed description of their respective evolution in modern Chinese.