Caseverb

Caseverb is a term used in linguistic theory to describe a class of verbs whose semantics or syntax interact with grammatical case marking in a way that the verb selects or constrains the case of its arguments. In languages with explicit case systems, a caseverb is said to license a particular case frame for its participants, such that the nominative, accusative, dative, or other cases assigned to nouns reflect the verb’s argument structure rather than being determined solely by word order or prepositions.

The concept emphasizes the link between a verb’s valency, theta roles, and the case system of a language. Caseverbs may require their subjects and objects to bear specific cases, and this requirement can be realized through case agreement on the verb, case-marked noun phrases, or both. In some theories, caseverbs contribute to a language’s cross-argument alignment by shaping how participants are marked, especially in languages with flexible word order or rich case inventories.

Cross-linguistic usage of the term varies. Some researchers view case marking as primarily a property of nouns and prepositions, with verbs playing a secondary role. Others argue that certain verbs function as case governers, particularly in languages featuring differential object marking or explicit case valency. The term caseverb is not uniformly adopted and is often discussed within broader topics such as valency, argument structure, and case grammar rather than as an independent universal category.

See also: grammatical case, case grammar, valency, argument structure, differential object marking.