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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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tomhchappell <tomhchappell@...>