Structures of the Mandarin gei constructions

Abstract

This paper argues for a “generalized” ditransitive analysis for the Mandarin gei constructions. The element gei ‘give,’ like the corresponding elements in many other languages, can assume a variety of uses, serving for instance as a ditransitive verb, a dative marker, a beneficiary marker, a causative marker, and so on. Different analyses have been proposed for these uses of gei. This paper argues that, despite the different uses, gei remains a ditransitive verb, and the specific meanings of gei are derived from the structures in which it occurs and the semantics of the elements that co-occur with it.