Complex small clauses constructions in Brazilian Portuguese

Authors

  • Patrícia Rodrigues
  • Maria José Foltran

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.

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Published

2016-04-04

How to Cite

Rodrigues, P., & Foltran, M. J. (2016). Complex small clauses constructions in Brazilian Portuguese. Estudos Linguísticos (São Paulo. 1978), 42(1), 497–511. Retrieved from https://revistadogel.emnuvens.com.br/estudos-linguisticos/article/view/1124

Issue

Section

Sintaxe