Re: THEORY: Can Ditransitive Verbs Agree With More Than Two Core Arguments?
From: | Chris Bates <chris.maths_student@...> |
Date: | Thursday, May 19, 2005, 8:28 |
>
> Combine that with the fact that, if there is a case whose mark is zero
> (an unmarked case), it is the case that contains the only argument of
> the intransitive clause: and we get the conclusion that in ergative
> monotransitive clauses the verb agrees with the absolutive argument,
> but in accusative monotransitive clauses the verb agrees with the
> nominative argument.
Actually, ergative languages which only agree with the abs argument
aren't that common. THe most common patterns are either: agreement with
neither, or agreement with both. Some exhibit accusative agreement only
with the subject. But only a very small number agree only with the abs
argument.
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