Instrumentalcompletive

Instrumentalcompletive refers to a theoretical concept within linguistics, specifically in the study of syntax and verb transitivity. It describes a situation where a verb, when used in its perfective aspect, requires an instrumental complement to convey its full meaning or to complete the action. This means the action of the verb is understood as having been performed with the assistance or use of a specific instrument, and this instrument is grammatically marked, often with a preposition or case.

The concept is particularly relevant when analyzing languages that have a robust case system or prepositional phrases that explicitly denote instruments. For example, in some languages, a sentence like "He cut the bread" might require a specific marker for "with a knife" if the cutting action is viewed as completed and instrumental. The instrumental complement is not merely an optional adjunct but is seen as integral to the semantic completeness of the verb in its perfective form.

Research into instrumentalcompletive phenomena often involves cross-linguistic comparison to understand the universal principles and language-specific variations in expressing instrumental roles with perfective verbs. It highlights how grammatical structures can encode not just the action itself but also the means by which the action is carried out, especially when the action is viewed as a concluded event.