Analytic Causative Constructions in English

(Viewed in the Light of Cognitive Semantics)

Abstract

The article examines English analytical causative constructions in the light of cognitive semantics and functional linguistics which makes it possible to identify six syntactic patterns. Each pattern includes two predicates – the first is usually expressed by a causative verb, the second – by different parts of speech or different verb forms (Infinitive, Participle I, Participle II, Gerund, Adjective, Noun). As for the participants of the action (the CAUSER and the CAUSEE), they are the nominal elements of the pattern and are presented by animate or inanimate nouns. This fact is determined by the type of the pattern and the nature of the causative verb involved. The analysis suggests that apart from paradigmatic causative verbs, these patterns can also include verbs that prototypically do not belong to causative verbs in English.