Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Perception verb complements in Spanish: same or different?

1978; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 23; Issue: 1-2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0008413100008732

1710-1115

Margarita Suñer,

Phonetics and Phonology Research

Introduction. In Spanish, pairs of sentences like the following are found: (1) a. Oigo que Juan toca la guitarra. I-hear that John is-playing the the guitar. b. Oigo a Juan que toca la guitarra. I-hear John that (he) is-playing the guitar. (2) a. Vio que María estaba de regreso. He-saw that Mary had returned. b. Vio a María que estaba de regreso. He-saw Mary that (she) had returned. (3) a. Veo que el río trae mucha agua. I-see that the river carries a-lot-of water 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) a. Dejé que Juan saliera. I-let that John leave (Subjunctive) b. Dejé a Juan que saliera. I-let John that (he) leave (Subjunctive)