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Part of
Explorations in English Historical Syntax
Edited by Hubert Cuyckens, Hendrik De Smet, Liesbet Heyvaert and Charlotte Maekelberghe
[Studies in Language Companion Series 198] 2018
► pp. 105–138

Chapter 4
Finite causative complements in Middle English

| Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens

This paper examines the use of causative verbs with two kinds of finite complements in Middle English (ME): a simple finite clause (V+that) and one involving both a finite clause and a separate NP (V+NP+that). I attempt to determine in which contexts these structures appear, and to what extent they are related. I suggest that V+that is probably a survivor from Old English and V+NP+that a later innovation. I also examine the factors likely to have contributed to the persistence of V+that in ME, and to the emergence of V+NP+that, such as language contact and the influence of other existing Middle English constructions which may have played a role in the spread of V+NP+that.

Keywords: causatives, finite complements, separate NP, argument structure, agentivity
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The frequency of finite causative complements
  • 3.Finite causative complements in OE
    • 3.1“First” and “second” causatives
    • 3.2V+NP+þæt in OE
  • 4.Finite causative complements in ME
    • 4.1V+that in ME
    • 4.2Survival of V+that
    • 4.3V+NP+that
      • 4.3.1Distribution of V+NP+that
      • 4.3.2V+NP+that and the evolution of causative make
      • 4.3.3CLAN sentences
      • 4.3.4A comparison with perception verbs
      • 4.3.5Links to other causative constructions in ME
      • 4.3.6Possible external factors encouraging the development of V+NP+that
      • 4.3.7Summary
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 13 August 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.198.05low
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Moretti, Lorenzo
2022. A multivariate analysis of causativedoand causativemakein Middle English. Linguistics Vanguard 8:1 ► pp. 165 ff. DOI logo

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