Abstract
N. Ruwet Since the beginnings of Generative Grammar, most linguists have taken it for granted that Experiencer-Object verbs can be interpreted as agentive. Recently, Jan van Voorst has questioned that assumption : agentivity means control of the object by the subject ; such a control is lacking in the case of E₀- verbs. Taking into account the heterogeneity of the E₀-class, I will reformulate Voorst's findings in terms of intentionality. The object of E₀-verbs is an intentional subject (IS). Individual E₀-verbs differ in that some of them (amuse) allow their subject to be interpreted as an IS, while others (preoccupy) do not allow it. Moreover, some verbs (terrorize, humiliate) come close to being interpreted as agentive verbs.
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