Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese
Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese
Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese
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<strong>Syntax</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bi</strong> <strong>Comparative</strong> <strong>Construction</strong> <strong>in</strong> Mandar<strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong>ese<br />
b. Q: tamen yij<strong>in</strong>g bi-guo liqi ma?<br />
<strong>the</strong>y already compete- ASP strength PART<br />
‘Have <strong>the</strong>y already competed for <strong>the</strong>ir strength?’<br />
A: bi le.<br />
Compete ASP<br />
‘Yes, <strong>the</strong>y did.’<br />
c. Q: ta bi Lisi geng ai ni ma?<br />
A: *bi<br />
he COM Lisi more love you PART<br />
‘Does he love you more than Lisi does?’<br />
COM<br />
‘Yes.’<br />
Fourth, many verbs occur <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> V-yi-V reduplication form, while bi <strong>in</strong> CC cannot.<br />
(74) a. nimen bi-(yi)-bi liqi ba?<br />
you(plural) compete-(one)-compete strength PART<br />
‘You can (try to) compete for your strength!’<br />
b. *Wo bi-(yi)-bi Lisi geng ai ni<br />
I COM-(one)-COM Lisi more love you<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally, verbs usually take a nom<strong>in</strong>al complement, while bi has more alternations <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> category <strong>of</strong> its follow<strong>in</strong>g element, such as NP, VP, PP, CP, and even a<br />
non-constituent.<br />
48<br />
中正大學 e-Thesys (94 學年度)
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