Separability of Light Verb Constructions in Persian*

predicative, with respect to a(rgument)-structure, predication and thematic force. The
non-predicative PVs are PV nouns like guš ‘ear’ and ʔa:taš ‘fire’ as in (19-20) which do
not carry a-structure, while the predicative PVs are action or derived nouns such as
ʔanja:m ‘performing’ and ra:hnama:ʔi ‘advice’ as in (21-24) which can bear a-structure.
The reason for such a classification is the fact that the non-predicative nouns cannot
appear in nominal form units with arguments which are predicated by the corresponding
LVCs to which these PV nouns belong. However, the VNs and predicative nouns, being
the nominal element of LVCs, can co-occur with their arguments in such nominal units
though the verbal elements of the corresponding LVCs are not needed. Compare the
following sentences predicated by LVCs in (a) examples with their nominal forms in (b)
examples. The well-formed nominal expressions in (b) can be used as titles of stories or
newspaper headlines. Also, note that there are no simple verbs corresponding to the
predicative PV nouns (23-26) in Persian.
(19) a. Ali be ra:dyo guš da:d / kard.
Ali to radio ear do-past / do-past
‘Ali listened to the radio.
*b. guš-e Ali be ra:dyo
ear-Ez. Ali to radio
‘Ali’s listening to radio.’
(20) a. Ali bute-ha:-ra ʔa:taš zad.
Ali bushes-DOM fire beat-past
‘Ali set fire to the bushes.’
*b. ʔa:taš-e bute-ha: tavasote Ali
fire-Ez. bushes by Ali
‘setting fire to bushes by Ali’
(21) a. Ali ka:r-aš-ra: ʔanja:m da:d.
Ali work-his-DOM performing give-past
‘Ali did his work.’
b. ʔanja:m-e ka:r tavasote Ali.
performing-Ez. work by Ali
‘Ali’s doing the work. / Doing the work by Ali.’
(22) a. Ali ka:r-aš-ra: ʔa:qa:z kard.
Ali work-his-DOM start do-past
‘Ali started his work.
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