The Realization of Meaning Differences between English Resultative and Depictive Predication Constructions in Focus Theory

In this paper, I examine the phenomenon of English depictive and resultative predications with specific attention given to the relation between accentual focus structure and argument structure. The goal is pursued primarily through a production experiment and analyses to establish the interconnection between focus and argument structure. The central claim is that the resultative predicate forms a complex predicate with a main verb, whereas the depictive predicate behaves as an adjunct in English secondary constructions. The result shows that the relationship between focus and accent depends at least in part on their argument structure, confirming that current focus theories about argument-head and adjunct-head structures in primary predication constructions can be extended to secondary predication constructions.