Multi-verb constructions in Korean
Inhee Jo · The Knowledge Bank (The Ohio State University) · 1990
In this paper, I will investigate characteristics of a number of multiverb construction of Korean which canprise a string of two or more adjacent verbs in a single clause, and whose syntacticosemantic and pragmatic behaviors crosscut other paratactic and hypotactic constructions.In the multi-verb constructions in question, the adjacent verbs are connected by a particle /a/ which is attached to the preceding verb, in the pattern of 'Vl-a V2' • 'Ihus they will be referred to as /a/-a:lNSTs in the follawing discussion, until a more detailed subclassification is in order.'Ihe follawings are same typical examples:(1) a.Tom-i cip-uro ttwi-a ]:;g -ass -ta. 1 -Nt'.M house-to run go -PAST-DEC 'Tom ran t:o the house.•b.Tom-i korq-lul ka -ass -ta.-NCI'!ball-Ace go -PAST-DEC • Torr, took the ball away.' c.Tom-i Mal:y-lul ttayli-a cuki -ass -ta.-NCI'!-Ace strike kill -PAST-DEC • Tam strucK