Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese

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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. 50 中正大學 e-Thesys (94 學年度)
Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese b. wo chifan *(bi paobu) geng kuai. I eat(rice) COM run more fast ‘I eat faster than run.’ In the literature, Tsao (1989), Liu (1996), Pu (2002), Waltraud (1993), Chao (2005) tries to find out some syntactic evidence to support the idea that bi is a preposition. Hsing (2003) points out that if we consider (79b) is derived from (79a), then the bi-phrase can be taken as a preverbal adjunct (Chao 2005). (79) a. Zhangsan gaoxing (Hsing 2003) Zhangsan happy ‘Zhangsan is happy.’ b. Zhangsan bi Lisi gaoxing Zhangsan COM Lisi happy ‘Zhangsan is happier than Lisi.’ c. Zhangsan [PPbi Lisi] gaoxing Zhangsan COM Lisi happy Nevertheless, a preposition usually requires a complement that is a full constituent (Hsing 2003), but bi does not have this limitation. (80) a. *Zhangsan xihuan zai [taibei jintian] Zhangsan likes at Taipei today b. [taibei jintian] bi [xinzhu zuotian] re Taipei today COM Hsinchu yesterday hot ‘It is hotter in Taipei today than in Hsinzhu yesterday.’ 51 中正大學 e-Thesys (94 學年度)
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Syntax of the Bi Comparative Construction in Mandarin Chinese

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