On the Syntax and Semantics of the Transitivity of Prepositional Verbs in Arabic

Abstract

AbstractArabic Prepositional verbs, verbs obligatorily forming a combination with a certain preposition they select, differ from single (one‐word) transitive verbs or intransitive verbs in that they display distinctive syntactic behaviors concerning theta and Case assignment. This article will offer a syntactic account of the transitivity feature of prepositional verbs by examining their structural configuration and thematic representation. I will show that prepositional verbs are two‐place predicates, that the prepositions in such constructions are semantically vacuous but serve a Case‐checking function, and that such prepositions are defective due to their being obligatorily selected by the verb, which results in the formation of a head‐licensing chain that renders them transparent to theta and Case assignment. While I will argue that theta licensing allows the verb to directly theta‐mark the object of the preposition, Case licensing of objects of prepositions differs in that the preposition obligatorily assigns genitive Case only to the specifier of its complement, optionally permitting the verb to assign accusative Case to the rest of the elements in the complement. Such theta and Case licensing is possible only in configurations wherein a prepositional phrase occurs as a complement of the verb.