Universal #421

Legacy number: 421

 Number  420
 Original  There is no language where, given a constituent class including both animate and inanimate members, the verb would agree with some or all of the inanimate members but with none of the animate ones.
 Standardized  Provided there is a constituent class including both animate and inanimate members:
IF the verb agrees with some or all of its inanimate members, THEN the verb also agrees with its at least some of its animate members.
 Formula  verb agreement (inanimate constituent) ⇒ verb agreement (animate constituent)
 Keywords  verb agreement, animacy
 Domain  inflection, syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  languages mentioned in Moravcsik 1978b
 Source  Moravcsik 1978b: 365, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=5"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">

← Back to Universals Archive

Discussion

No discussion yet.