ИСТИНА

In this paper, we argue that the causative construction is to be analyzed as a complex predicate. On this analysis, it is parallel to a canonical complex predicate consisting of a nominal and a light verb. In a complex predicate, the nominal part is a modifier of an eventuality description rather than an argument of the light verb. Evidence for this generalization comes from prefixation. Perfectivizing prefixes are associated with different attachment options depending on the status of the nominal. If a nominal is an argument of kodta, the prefix appears on the verb. If, the other way around, a nominal is a non-verbal component of a complex predicate, the prefix is merged on top of the non-verbal component. Evidence from prefixation suggests that in the causative construction, the “causative” verb kaenyn ‘make’ is essentially a light verb modified by a nominal.The nominal consists of the verb stem that appears with the infinitival morphology and its internal argument which form a verb phrase embedded under a nominal layer of structure. We suggest that at least for a subset of causative configurations, the causee is to be analyzed as an argument of the causative verb.