8 9 Sep,8

7 5 Journal of Anhui Agricultural University (social science edition) Vol7 No.5

On the Explanation of Linguistic Features of the Middle Construction

Abstract:




Key words:

[1]273

These potatoes peel easily.
Lekakou


[2]


Damp clothes iron easily. ( * Damp
clothes iron carefully.)
Fagan 3.
[3]


can
can possibility

The clock winds easily. ( The clock
, can be wound easily.)
4






The brush paints well.
This paper copies easily.



[4]






+
1. +
NP+VP+Adv




This drill handles nicely. ( People
handle this drill nicely.)
2. Rizzi

[5]









1.



,

This book translates well. ( *This book 1.
translates. *This book well translates.)
2



The wall was painted on purpose. / by Tom.
* Walls painted easily on purpose. / by Tom.
The key doesn t turn. 2
The car might steer.
Bananas do strip.
Bureaucrats BRIBE.
Few bureaucrats bribe.
3
*The book sells deliberately. / to make money.
The book is sold deliberately. / to make money.
3

*Bureaucrats bribed / are bribing easily.
*Bureaucrats bribe easily every day. The door will not open. (
4 )
for The door will not be opened.

, 4

Books about herself read quickly for Mary.

Keyser & Roeper This judge bribes easily. ( This judge is
[6] easily bribed.)


Perlmutter [7]




The ice melted. / The ice is melting.
Bureaucrats bribe easily. ( * Bureau-
crats are bribing easily. * Bribe easily, Bureau-
crats ! )
4.

all by oneself

The ship sank all by itself.
*This book reads easily all by itself.


1






The stick broke. ( *The stick of this kind
broke.)

This car drives well. / Letters to oneself com-

pose quickly.

2.

The river froze solid. / The vase broke into
pieces.

Our food digests slowly. / Books about oneself

never read poorly.

3