Complex Predicators vs. Complex Verbs in Slovene

Abstract

This article proposes grounds for differentiating between complex verbs and other complex predicators. It treats both complex predicators as sentence elements and the complex verb as a complex lexeme functioning as a part of speech. This approach combines existing knowledge of predicatives and semantically basic verbs with an assessment of their semantic use from a general perspective and their grammatical use as copulae. The related issue of valency is considered—namely, the roles of verbal and non-verbal valency within complex predicators and verbs, as well as the “external” valency of a complex predicator on the clause-sentence level. Finally, the lexicographical issue of determining and describing independent multi-word lexemes is briefly taken up.