An Account Of "N1De N2" Para-attributive Constructions As Subjects In Modern Chinese

This thesis strives to explores the function and nature of “de” in “N1de N2”para-attributive constructions in modern Chinese, especially in “N1de N2+V de R”constructions. The majority of linguists have made research on this kind of constructionsbased on a synchronic method. However, they all lack support from historical data.Considering this fact, this thesis will mainly concentrate on the historical development of“N1de N2+V de R” constructions and “de” from a diachronic perspective. Theappearance of “de” as a modal particle has something to do with the disyllabic trend ofChinese words. So from the angle of Chinese prosody, this thesis will propose a hypothesisthat “de” in “N1de N2+V de R” constructions does not act as a grammatical particle;rather, it serves as a modal particle. When “N1” is a pronoun,“de” is inserted to constitutea disyllabic word, which conforms more to the disyllabic trend of Chinese words. When“N1” is a noun,“de” is added just to meet the need of prosody. So whether “N1” is apronoun or a noun,“de” is a modal particle, which can be deleted or replaced by otherwords.