Grammar Squib - The Complex Passive in Danish

Differences between complex passives in Norwegian and Danish

In Norwegian the active participles used in complex passives have the same argument structure as their corresponding nominal modifiers. Løpt as a two-place predicate occurs in complex passive constructions and as a pre-nominal modifier in Norwegian. The intransitive verb løpt does neither occur as pre-nominal modifier, nor in complex passives.

Participles in the Danish complex passives are always past participles, and they do not occur as pre-nominal modifiers. The Danish intransitive løbet can be used in a complex passive construction, but it never occurs as a pre-nominal modifier. Further, I doubt that a Danish two place predicate like løbet is allowed in a complex passive, if the DIR-argument is not a predicate itself with its own argument structure.

Norwegian: løpt [AGENT,DIR] løpt [AGENT]

Danish: løbet [AGENT,DIR] løbet [AGENT]

In Norwegian, participles based on unaccusative verbs are allowed in complex passive constructions. This is not the case in Danish.