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Perception verb complements in Spanish: same or different?*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Margarita Suñer
Margarita Suñer*
Affiliation:
Cornell University
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Extract

Introduction. In Spanish, pairs of sentences like the following are found:

  1. (1)

    1. a. Oigo que Juan toca la guitarra.

      I-hear that John is-playing the the guitar.

    2. b. Oigo a Juan que toca la guitarra.

      I-hear John that (he) is-playing the guitar.

  2. (2)

    1. a. Vio que María estaba de regreso.

      He-saw that Mary had returned.

    2. b. Vio a María que estaba de regreso.

      He-saw Mary that (she) had returned.

  3. (3)

    1. a. Veo que el río trae mucha agua.

      I-see that the river carries a-lot-of water

    2. b. Veo el río que trae mucha agua.

      I-see the river that (it) carries a-lot-of water.

    In general, it appears that in sentences with verbs of perception which introduce a que clause, the embedded subject (see a. sentences) is able to move upwards to the object position in the main clause (see b. sentences). This pattern also occurs in the causative construction with dejar.

  4. (4)

    1. a. Dejé que Juan saliera.

      I-let that John leave (Subjunctive)

    2. b. Dejé a Juan que saliera.

      I-let John that (he) leave (Subjunctive)

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 23 , Issue 1-2 , Spring/Fall 1978 , pp. 107 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association 1978

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Footnotes

*

I would like to express my gratitude to all who had read and criticized earlier versions of this paper: Wayles Browne, Sally McConnell-Ginet, Ivonne Bordelois, John S. Bowers, Larry D. King and Erik J. Beukenkamp.

My thanks also to Amanda Chacona for helping me with the data. As usual, all errors remain my own.

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