Intransitive Resultative Constructions and Fake Objects

Abstract

An unergative verb takes a fake object in resultative use though it cannot in non-resultative use. This paper proposes that a fake object is an internal argument of the main verb. To explain the fact that a fake object atisfies Case Filter, we reinterpret Burzio's Generalization. This leads us, against Chomsky (1995), to argue that [ + assign Accusative Case] is not an intrinsic feature of the verb. Verb's capacity of assigning the Accusative Case crucially relies on whether the verb has an external 8-role to assign. So an unergative verb is always a potential Accusative Case assigner since it takes an external argument. In this paper, we also clarify that the FI Principle forces the appearance of a fake object.