Abstract
This paper investigates the semantic and syntactic properties of [N(oun)+de+Q(uantifier)] in Mandarin Chinese. Based on a comparison with the quantitive construction [Q+N], the paper advocates that [N+de+Q] is the Chinese partitive construction. Adopting a clausal approach to the syntactic derivation of partitives, it is hypothesized that Chinese partitives are formed via applying Predicate Inversion to a small clause that features a BELONG-type possession relationship. The difference between Chinese partitives and English-type partitives in terms of the surface word order is a result of a parametric variation with respect to whether the remnant of Predication Inversion undergoes further raising or not. Copyright © 2015 John Benjamins Publishing Company.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 85-120 |
| Journal | International Journal of Chinese Linguistics |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2015 |
Citation
Jin, J. (2015). The partitive construction in Mandarin Chinese. International Journal of Chinese Linguistics, 2(1), 85-120. doi: 10.1075/ijchl.2.1.04jinKeywords
- Partitives
- Quantitives
- Predicate inversion
- Possession