On Existence Constructions In Chinese

Under the guidance of three-dimensional grammar, this dissertation gives a full and systematic discussion of existence constructions, which is a kind of sentence types in Chinese grammar system. Syntactically speaking, existence construction can be divided into three parts: the verb, the pre-verb part called Part A and post-verb part. Semantically speaking, the attributives of the verbs constrain the co-occurrence of the pre-verb phrases and the post-verb phrases. Pragmatically speaking, the key roles of existence constructions are description and narration, which can be separated by forms. Generally speaking, narrative existence constructions have simpler structure and little variety of verbs, while the descriptive existence constructions have more complicated structure and varieties of verbs, and asymmetry exists in terms of text style. A deep thought is given to the post-verb phrases and so is the pre-verb phrases, such as whether and how the preposition can be omitted.The dissertation consists of eight chapters, foreword and summary as well.The foreword is a brief introduction to the significance of this study, its scope, guidelines and methodology.The first chapter makes an overall review of the studies done in the field concerned, and briefly points out problems existing.The second chapter introduces the criterion of differentiating existence constructions. Based on it, the dissertation discusses the attributives and classifications of the existence constructions. Conclusions are made that existence constructions are a kind of sentence types, rather than a sentence pattern. Its function is to express the concept of existence. Thus, time words, location words and phrases can be the part A, while constructions such as "location words + attributive phrases" and "location words + is + location words" are excluded from existence constructions.The third chapter describes fully the components of existence constructions. It discusses the attributives of part A, which is a topic rather than a subject. Besides, this chapter gives a full account of the characteristics of the construction of "man (full)+N1+de+N2".The fourth chapter discusses the constraints the verb semantic features on other components. The co-occurrence parts and transformation are determined by the verb semantics. In the disappearing existence sentences, the verbs must be mono-valent ones. The default place of other component is before the verb. If displaced after the verb, the empty place must be obligatorily filled by location words. The prerequisite for the bi-valent verbs to be a part of existence construction is N1 must be omitted and the location words lies before the verb.The fifth chapter analyzes the information structures, the functions, and characteristics in different text styles of the existence constructions. Conclusions are made that there are two types of existence construction, one of which is descriptive, and the other of which is narrative. Asymmetry exists in different text styles. Narrative ones are simpler in structure, little in numbers and scatter in spoken texts and political and scientific texts as well. Descriptive ones are more complicated in structure and distribute mainly in fictions and prose.The sixth chapter surveys the conditions in which location words can be part A, whose function is co-referenced orientation. Thus, it cannot be an initial sentence of a text or a paragraph.The seventh part discusses whether the initial preposition can be omitted. To be accurate, if there is an adverb or "bing" "bingqie"(or/and) located before the location words, there must be a preposition before the location words. While if it is a pure location word or noun phrases and V+object constructions expressing location, no preposition is needed. In addition, preposition cannot appear in the existence constructions without verbs.The eighth chapter describes the post-verb parts, and discusses the interaction of the syntactic features and semantic ones.