Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

Transitive Verbs

• Combines with two arguments:
  • Subject (often expresses the agent)
  • Object (often expresses the theme)
• Verbs combine first with the object, forming a constituent, and then with the subject forming a larger constituent.

Intransitive Verbs

• Have subjects but no objects.

Structure of Verb Phrases (VP)

• Lexical category of the head (V) projects:
  • First to a larger constituent (V bar)
  • Then to an even larger constituent (VP)

X-bar (X') Schema

• Phrases may have a similar structure to verb phrases (VP)
• A head X (can be V, A, etc.) combines with a phrase to form X bar (X')
• X bar combines with another phrase to form XP

Structural Positions

• Complement: Sister to the head (X)
• Specifier: Sister to X bar

Examples

• Verb Phrase (VP): V + complement = V bar, V bar + specifier = VP
• Adjective Phrase (AP): A + complement = A bar, A bar + specifier = AP
• Noun Phrase (NP): N + complement = N bar, N bar + specifier = NP
• Determiner Phrase (DP): Alternative view, with determiner (D) as head

General Schema for Phrases

• X-bar schema applies to different categories of phrases
• Complement and specifier positions can be optional, depending on the properties of the head

Limitations of X-bar Schema

• Overstructure: Cases where it provides more positions than necessary (e.g., intransitive verbs)
• Understructure: Cases where it doesn't provide enough positions (e.g., ditransitive verbs and unlimited modifiers)