Argument Legitimacy Principles

The Syntax of English 'have'
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-32457-7
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 168 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

This book introduces a novel framework for argument structure and demonstrates its explanatory power through a unified analysis of the diverse uses of the English verb ‘have.’

Argument structure, a core topic in linguistic theory, explores the relationship between syntactic structure and meaning in human languages. The polysemous verb ‘have’ poses a significant challenge in this domain. By applying four governing principles of argument structure, this book provides a cohesive analysis of ‘have’ while establishing a general framework that extends to broader linguistic phenomena. Central to this framework is the question of how nominal expressions are interpreted in specific structural positions.

Designed for linguistic researchers and graduate students, the book is particularly relevant to those studying syntax, semantics, pragmatics, or linguistic theory, especially within the generative tradition. However, its insights also offer value to scholars working in non-generative approaches.

Zielgruppe

Academic, Postgraduate, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Chen, Yifan

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Grammatik, Syntax, Morphologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Argument Structure of ‘have’: A Puzzling Issue 2. Argument Structure of ‘have’: Previous Accounts 3. Argument Legitimacy Principles 4. Argument Structure of Nominal-Taking Transitive Sentences: Evidence from Nominal-Taking ‘have’ 5. Argument Structure of Clause-Taking Transitive Sentences: Evidence from Clause-Taking ‘have’ 6. Concluding Remarks

Über Autor(innen)

Yifan Chen received her PhD in Theoretical Linguistics from Peking University in 2025. She is now an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Hunan University. Her research interests include syntax, morphology, and pragmatics.