Original scientific paper

PREPOSITIONAL SUBJECTS AS COMPLEMENTS OF ADJECTIVAL PREDICATES

Dubravko Kučanda ; Faculty of Philosophy, University of Osijek

Abstract

This paper discusses the functions of prepositional phrases with for and of as complements
of adjectival predicates. The for phrase is usually described as a device which
introduces the subject of the following infinitival verbal predicate, whereas of is assigned
only a pragmatic function of facilitating the mentioning of the person being
discussed. It is shown that there is no syntactic or semantic/pragmatic difference between
the two prepositional phrases and that they should therefore be given identical
treatment. Neither prepositional phrase exhibits any of the coding or behavioural properties
of a typical subject. They introduce the NP which is the semantic argument of
the following predicate, but they do not have a clear syntactic function.

Keywords

subject; prepositional phrase; adjective complementation; grammatical constructions; syntactic functions

Hrčak ID:

31346

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/31346

Publication date:

13.12.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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