The Structure of Particle Constructions

Abstract

Abstract Particle constructions are an important probe into the structure of various secondary predicative constructions, as I shall try to show in what follows. Chapter 3 argues that the properties of particle constructions shed light on the analysis of triadic constructions. Before proceeding to this discussion, however, we should first of all establish the structure of particle constructions in general. To this end, I shall present in the pages to follow an in-depth investigation of the structure of COMPLEX PARTICLE CONSTRUCTIONS in English. The central claim to be defended is that, in any event in complex particle constructions, the particle is an ergativesmall clause (SC) head, selecting another SC as its complement. Towards the end of this chapter, the results of our case study of English complex particle constructions will be considered against the back ground of similar constructions in Dutch, and simplex particle constructions in both languages.