Argument structure: English verbs of suiting

Abstract

Intermediate to advanced students of English grammar are often confronted with grammatical paradoxes for which traditional grammar can only offer a descriptive solution. One such paradox is illustrated by the so-called verbs of suiting. These verbs are apparently transitive in structure but do not follow the same patterns of data found with true transitive verbs. In light of the aforementioned paradox, this paper has two purposes. The first purpose, the more specific, is to show that there is a principled reason behind the paradox suggested by English verbs of suiting, namely that such verbs do not assign an external theta role. The second purpose, the more general, is to establish a set of diagnostics, for both students and teachers of English grammar, which can be used to determine whether or not a given verb assigns an external theta role.