resultative

Resultative is a term used in linguistics to describe a type of construction in which the action of a verb produces a change of state that is expressed by a following element. The resulting state is typically described by an adjective phrase or a noun phrase, often in a postverbal position. Resultatives form a link between the event described by the verb and a new condition of the object or subject.

In English, resultatives commonly appear as the verb plus a result phrase, forming a small clause after the direct object. Examples include:

- They hammered the metal flat.

- She painted the door red.

- He broke the vase into pieces.

- The chef sliced the bread thin.

These constructions indicate not just the action itself, but the state that results from it, such as flatness, redness, fragmentation, or thickness.

The analysis of resultatives is debated in linguistics. A common view treats them as involving a small clause or a postverbal result phrase that denotes the newly achieved state, with a causal or thematic connection to the verb. Some approaches analyze the result phrase as forming a constituent with the object, while others treat resultatives within a broader transitivity or clause-complex framework.

Cross-linguistic variation is notable. While English frequently employs resultatives, other languages may express the same idea with different syntactic strategies, including serial verb constructions, dedicated resultative particles, or alternative adjective or nominal forms. Resultatives are studied for their implications about causation, state change, and the architecture of verb-phrase structure.