Abstract
In this work, we investigate the syntax and semantics of the rongyi ‘easy’ and nan ‘difficult’ constructions in Mandarin. We provide a unified syntactic analysis for the rongyi ‘easy’ and nan ‘difficult’ constructions, and further explain the selection restriction imposed on the predicates of the embedded clauses in the rongyi ‘easy’ and nan ‘difficult’ constructions. In typical Mandarin tough constructions, the matrix subject is co-indexed with the object of the embedded verb. In the previous studies, linguists postulates that this involves an operator undergoing A’-movement to the left edge of the embedded TP from where it is coindexed with the matrix subject. However, we find that the matrix subject can also be the subject or an adverbial element of the embedded clause. Thus, I suggest that in Mandarin tough constructions, the subject, object, and adverbial elements can be the empty operator in the embedded clause. Then, it undergoes A’-movement to the TP, from where it is predicated of the matrix subject. We also point out the deficiencies of Wei and Taos’ analyses, which focus on the embedded subject only. Besides, I propose that the nan ‘difficult’ construction is different from the rongyi ‘easy’ construction in that nan ‘difficult’ involves an experiencer argument. We also argue that rongyi ‘easy’ selects a complement that denotes a “tendency”, whereas nan ‘difficult’ selects a complement that denotes an “experiencing”. Furthermore, I discuss the particle jiu, as it makes certain ungrammatical rongyi-sentence grammatical.