An Elementary Research Into The Pattern Of "Wei A Er A"

The pattern of "wei A er A" is very common in modern Chinese, but the research on it is very rare. This thesis attempts to approach it from the following aspects: its components, syntax functions, semantic feature and pragmatic feature.The pattern of "wei A er A" is composed of "wei" and "er" and "A", "wei" can introduce aim and cause. It can be replaced by "weile/weizhe" or "yin/yinwei". The usage of the former is not the same as the latter completely, "er " functions as connection."A" has nothing to do with the number of syllables and has something to do with word class. Scholars have found nouns (noun phrases) and verbs (verbal phrases) can be used in this pattern. In fact, adjectives (adjective phrases) can be used in this pattern too.Whether a word can be used in this pattern depends on its particular semantic feature. Chen Changlai has found that the verbs which are used in this pattern should be person-narrative and independent ones. But the psychological verbs and the verbs that describe nature and condition are excluded. We find that the former and a part of the latter can also be used in this pattern. In terms of adjectives, they should contain the semantic features [+independence]. The adjectives contain the semantic features [ - independence] cannot be used in this pattern. They can be used in this pattern under certain circumstances. The nouns can freely enter this pattern,...