Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese

Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese
3.2.2 bi As a Preposition 10
McCawley (1992) lists several criteria to distinguish the preposition from verb in
MC. The comparative marker bi obeys most of the following criteria, which support
the idea that bi does not behave like a preposition.
(77) a. A preposition normally takes one NP
b. the prototypical use of a prepositional phrase is as a modifier
c. prepositions are subject to Pied-piping
d. Objects of Ps are less free in allowing extraction or deletion
e. Ps allow their objects to have scope over higher constituents
Yet, in (78a), the prepositional phrase of gen mama is an adjunct so that without the
modification of it, (78a) is still grammatical. However, without the phrase bi paobu,
(78b) would become unacceptable, for the meaning is unclear. The prototypical use of
a prepositional phrase is as a modifier; however, the bi-phrase is the key element, the
datum of the comparison that makes the comparison works so it is not a modifier.
So, while bi-phrase in cannot be omitted.
(78) a. wo (gen mama) qu taibei
I with mother go-to Taipei
‘I go to Taipei with my mother.’
10
Whether there are prepositions in Mandarin Chinese has been a controversial issue, some claim
that it is coverb rather than preposition (Li and Thompson (1981), however, I’ll propose that bi is a
complementizer later, the issue will not be discussed here and they will be termed as “preposition,”
instead.
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中正大學 e-Thesys (94 學年度)