Complex small clauses constructions in Brazilian Portuguese
Keywords:
small clause, secondary predication, copula.Abstract
This work is concerned with copular clauses in Brazilian Portuguese as (1a) A Maria bêbada é chata e (1b) A Maria bêbada é chato. In the sentence (1a), in the relevant reading, the adjective bêbada is a predicative adjective, and the sentence can be paraphrased as A Maria quando está bêbada é chata. The sentence in (1b) has as its subject a constituent that refers to a situation, and can be paraphrased as A Maria estar bêbada é chato. The current standard analysis for copular sentences claims that the copula selects a small clause (SC) complement. The agreement marks in the sentence (1a) suggest that the subject of the selected SC is a DP. Under this view, we will argue that the adjective bêbada in (1a) must be analyzed as a secondary predicate. For the sentence in (1b), we argue that a SC subject analysis – Ser [SC [SC a Maria bêbada] chato]] – can explain the agreement facts observed.