Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 English resultative constructions and research questions 1
1.2 Major approaches to English resultative constructions 7
1.3 A sketch of the aspectual-causal event structure 9
1.4 The organization of the dissertation 11
Chapter 2 Previous Studies of English Resultative Construction 13
2.1 Introduction 13
2.2 The Syntax-Semantics Interface 14
2.2.1 Meaning-driven approach 17
2.2.1.1 Theta-grid 17
2.2.1.2 Event structure 18
2.2.1.3 Scalar/nonscalarchangeormanner/resultcomplementary distribution 21
2.2.2 Aspect-driven approach 24
2.2.2.1 Aspect and Aktionsart 24
2.2.2.2 Aspectual interface hypothesis 29
2.2.3 Meaning-aspect-integrated approach 33
2.2.3.1 A scalar model 33
2.2.3.2 A three-dimensional model 37
2.3 Analysis of English resultative constructions in theories of meaning-driven approach 40
2.3.1 Goldberg（1995）：a constructional analysis 40
2.3.2 Goldberg and Jackendoff（2004）：a constructional event structture account 45
2.3.3 Levin and Rappaport：an event structure account 51
2.3.4 Levin and Rappaport：scalar/nonscalar property with resultatives 55
2.4 Analysis of English resultative constructions in theories of aspect-driven approach 57
2.4.1 Wechsler（2001,2005）：event-argument homomorphism model of telicity 57
2.4.2 Wyngaerd（2001）：event measuring 63
2.5 Analysis of English resultative constructions in theories of meaning-aspect-integrated approach 66
2.6 Discussions 68
2.6.1 Comments on meaning-driven analysis 69
2.6.1.1 Comments on the constructional analysis 69
2.6.1.2 Comments on the analysis of event structure 72
2.6.1.3 Comments on the analysis of aspectually relevant lexical properties 73
2.6.2 Comments on aspect-driven analysis 75
2.6.2.1 Comments on Wechsler's homomorphism model 76
2.6.2.2 Comments on Wyngaerd's measuring event 78
2.6.3 Comments on meaning-aspect-integrated analysis 79
2.7 Summary 81
Chapter 3 An Aspectual-Causal Event Structure 84
3.1 Introduction 84
3.2 A general introduction to the aspectual-causal event structure 86
3.2.1 Research questions of event structure 86
3.2.2 The framework of the aspectual-causal event structure 88
3.3 The aspectual tier：Time-Space Hypothesis 90
3.4 The lexical tier：the lexicalized causal segment 93
3.4.1 Grounding studies 93
3.4.1.1 Types ofcausation 94
3.4.1.2 Causal segment and mapping model 96
3.4.2 The lexical structure of event 97
3.4.2.1 An extended classification of causation types 97
3.4.2.2 The lexical structure ofevent：the lexicalized causal segment 101
3.5 The connection and interaction of the two tiers 104
3.6 Event lexicalization and argument realization of English resultative constructions 111
3.6.1 The aspectual tier of event structure for English resultative constructions 111
3.6.2 The connection and interaction of two tiers in English resultative constructions 116
3.6.2.1 The constraint of the extended aspectual structure on the lexical structure 117
3.6.2.2 The constraint ofthe lexical structure on the extended aspectual structure 122
3.7 Summary 126
Chapter 4 An Aspectual-Causal Event Structure Account of English Resultative Constructions 131
4.1 Introduction 131
4.2 Verb types and causal relations 132
4.2.1 Physical action verbs：scrubbing-verbs and breaking-verbs 133
4.2.2 Motion verbs：running-verbs and entering-verbs 135
4.2.3 Behavioral verbs 137
4.2.4 Mental verbs 139
4.2.5 Inducive verbs：persuading-verbs and urging-verbs 140
4.2.6 Special cases 142
4.2.6.1 Following-verbs 142
4.2.6.2 Creation/consumption verbs 143
4.2.6.3 Singing-verbs 146
4.2.6.4 Creaking-verbs 148
4.2.7 Interim summary 149
4.3 The extendedness and right-boundedness of adjectives and prepositions 151
4.3.1 Adjectives 152
4.3.1.1 Non-gradable adjectives 152
4.3.1.2 Maximal endpoint closed-scale gradable adjectives 153
4.3.1.3 Minimum endpoint closed-scale gradable adjectives 154
4.3.1.4 Open-scale adjectives 155
4.3.2 Prepositions 156
4.3.2.1 Source Prepositions 157
4.3.2.2 Goal Prepositions 158
4.3.2.3 Route Prepositions 158
4.3.2.4 Comparative Prepositions 159
4.3.2.5 Constant Prepositions 159
4.3.2.6 Geometric Prepositions 160
4.3.2.7 Periodic Prepositions 160
4.4 Analyzing nuclear constructions 161
4.4.1 Physical action verbs in nuclear constructions 162
4.4.2 Motion verbs in nuclear constructions 164
4.4.3 Behavioral verbs in nuclear constructions 165
4.4.4 Mental action verbs in nuclear constructions 167
4.4.5 Inducive action verbs in nuclear constructions 168
4.4.6 Special cases 170
4.4.6.1 Following-verbs in nuclear constructions 170
4.4.6.2 Creation/consumption verbs in nuclear constructions 172
4.4.6.3 Singing-verbs in nuclear constructions 174
4.6.6.4 Creaking-verbs in nuclear constructions 176
4.5 Analyzing English resultative constructions 178
4.5.1 Physical action verbs in English resultative constructions 178
4.5.1.1 Scrubbing-verbs 178
4.5.1.2 Breaking-verbs 182
4.5.2 Motion verbs in English resultative constructions 184
4.5.2.1 Running-verbs 184
4.5.2.2 Entering-verbs 188
4.5.2 Behavioral verbs in English resultative constructions 189
4.5.4 Mental verbs in English resultative constructions 193
4.5.5 Inducive verbs in English resultative constructions 195
4.5.5.1 Urging-verbs 195
4.5.5.2 Persuading-verbs 197
4.5.6 Special cases 198
4.5.6.1 Following-verbs in English resultative constructions 199
4.5.6.2 Creation/consumption verbs in English resultative constructions 202
4.5.6.3 Singing-verbs in English resultative constructions 204
4.5.6.4 Creaking-verbs in English resultative constructions 209
4.6 Summary 212
Chapter 5 Conclusions and Discussions 217
5.1 Main findings 217
5.2 Implications 224
5.2.1 The invalidity of Aspectual Interface Hypothesis 225
5.2.2 The invalidity of the manner/result complementary distribution 226
5.2.3 Telicity and English resultative constructions 227
5.2.4 Homomorphism and English resultative constructions 228
5.3 Suggestions for future research 230
References 233