Difference between revisions of "SVC in Mandarin Chinese (Paul 2008)"

Wŏmen i [vP [adjunct clause PRO i kāi huì ] [vP tăolùn -le nèi -ge wèntí ]].
1PL hold meeting discuss-PERF that-CL problem
'We have discussed that problem holding a meeting'

Wŏmeni [vP kāi -le san-ci huì [CP PROi tăolùn nèi -ge wèntí ]].
1PL hold-PERF 3 -time meeting discuss that-CL problem
‘We held three meetings to discuss that problem.’

Tā [vP [adjunct clause PROi dă diànhuà ] [vP jiào-le chē ]] yĭhòu
3SG strike phone call-PERF car after
hái dĕng-le èrshí-fēnzhōng
still wait-PERF 20 - minute
‘After she had called a taxi by phone, she still waited for twenty minutes.’

Tāi [vP dă -le yī-cì diànhuà ] [CP PROi jiào chē ]]
3SG beat-PERF 1-time phone call car
‘He made a phone call to order a taxi.’

Wŏmen [vP [vP kāi huì ] , [vP tăolùn nèi -ge wèntí ]]
1PL hold meeting discuss that-CL problem
‘We hold a meeting and discuss that problem.'

Tā yī -miàn pāi shŏu yī-miàn xiào
3SG one-side clap hand one-side laugh
‘He is clapping hands and laughing simultaneously.’

• Tā [vP [vP pāi shŏu ] [vP xiào]]
  

3SG clap hand laugh
(Intended meaning: ‘He claps his hands and laughs.’)

Tāi [vP [adjunct clause PROi pāi (-zhe) shŏu ] [vP xiào ]]
3SG clap -DUR hand laugh
‘He laughs (while) clapping his hands.’

Wŏ méi dă diànhua zhēngqiú Lĭsì de yìjiàn.
1SG NEG strike phone solicit Lisi SUB opinion
‘I haven’t solicited Lisi’s opinion by phone.’

[Dàshēng niàn kèwén] kĕyĭ bù kĕyĭ bāngzhù fāyīn ?
loud read lesson can NEG can help pronunciation
‘Can reading the lesson aloud help one's pronunciation?’

• [Dàshēng niàn bù niàn kèwén] kĕyĭ bāngzhù fāyīn ?
  

loud read NEG read lesson can help pronunciation

• Tā [vP fŏurèn -le [TP tā zuò-cuò-le zhèi-jiàn shì]
  

3SG deny -PERF 3SG do -err -PERF this-CL matter
‘S/he denied that s/he handled this matter wrongly.’

Tā fŏurèn -le [DP zhèi-ge cuòwù ]
3SG deny -PERF this-CL mistake
‘S/he denied this error.’

Tā méi gàosu wŏ [ nĭ yĕ cānjiā huìyì]
3SG NEG tell 1SG 2SG also attend meeting
‘He didn’t tell me that you, too, attended the meeting.’

Tā gàosu wŏ [ nĭ méi cānjiā huìyì]
3SG tell 1SG 2SG NEG attend meeting
‘He told me that you didn’t attend the meeting.’

Tā méi gàosu wŏ [ nĭ yĕ méi cānjiā huìyì]
3SG NEG tell 1SG 2SG also NEG attend meeting
‘He didn’t tell me that you, too, didn’t attend the meeting.’

• Wŏ quàn tāi [nĭ xué yīxué]
  

1SG advise 3SG 2SG study medicine
‘I advised her that you should study medicine.’

• Wŏ quàn -le tāi [ PROi xué yīxué ]
  

1SG advise -PERF 3SG study medicine
‘I advised her to study medicine.’

Wŏ quàn tā bù yào xī dú
1SG advise 3SG NEG want inhale drug
‘I advised her not to take drugs.’

Wŏ dāying Lĭsì bù bă mìmì gàosu biérén
1SG promise Lisi NEG BA secret tell somebody
‘I promised Lisi not to divulge his secret.’

• Wŏ dă diànhuà bù zhēngqiú Lĭsì de yìjiàn
  

1SG strike phone NEG solicit Lisi SUB opinion
(intended meaning: ‘I phoned, but not in order to solicit Lisi’s opinion.’)

Wŏ jiāo -guo jĭ -ge xuéshēng hĕn yònggōng
1SG teach-EXP several-CL student very diligent
‘I have taught several students who are very diligent.’

• Wŏ zài jiāo jĭ -ge xuéshēng hĕn yònggōng
  

1SG DUR teach several-CL student very diligent
(I’m teaching several students who are very diligent.’)

Wŏ jiāo -guo / zai jiāo [DP (jĭ -ge) hĕn yònggōng de xuéshēng]
1SG teach-EXP / DUR teach several-CL very diligent SUB student
‘I taught/am teaching several students who are very diligent.’

• Tā xiăng chăo yī-ge cài tèbié hăochī.
  

1SG want fry 1 -CL dish especially delicious
(‘He wants to prepare a dish which is particularly delicious.’)

Tā xiăng chăo/ chăo-le [DP yī-ge tèbié hăochī de cài ]
1SG want fry / fry -PERF 1 -CL dish especially SUB delicious
(‘He wants to prepare/prepared a particularly delicious dish.’)

Tā guìxiàlái qiú wŏ
3SG kneel:down beg 1SG
(i) 'He knelt down in order to beg me.'
(ii) 'He knelt down and then begged me.'
(iii) 'He knelt down begging me.'
(iv) 'He knelt down and he begged me.'

Tā zuì hăo bă [vP[vP Ākiū jièshào gĕi Lĭsì] [vP Wángwŭ jièshào gĕi Lăolĭ]]
1SG most good BA Akiu introduce to Lisi Wangwu introduce to Laoli
‘He’d better introduce Zhangsan to Lisi and Wangwu to Laoli.’

Nĭ bă zhèi-bĕn cídiăn [vP zài [vP jiègĕi wŏ sān-tiān ]]
2SG BA this-CL dictionary again lend 1SG 3 -day
‘Lend me this dictionary for another three days.’