De-constructing small clauses: The case of Mandarin Chinese

Taking up an early observation by Y.-H. Audrey Li (1985) stating the systematic lack of Chinese equivalents for English small clauses (SC) with nominal predicates (They elected John president), this article demonstrates that lacks SCs altogether. This holds independently approach adopted, be it analysis as lexical projections different category labels (cf. Stowell 1981, Matushansky 2019) or uniform PredP Bowers 1993). In Chinese, there is no root vs non-root asymmetry predicates: If a X not licit autonomous predicate in matrix sentences, then elsewhere, i.e. clauses, either. Furthermore, has exceptional case marking verbs, verbs selecting SC-complements. Claims to contrary literature are based on translations and involve completely structures. Given contexts postulating non-verbal predication sentences does seem warranted.