7. Predicative Complements

The subject-predicate relationship, which usually holds between a subject and a verb phrase (ex. "[Giovanni]-SUBJ [mangia la minestra]-PRED" - Giovanni eats the soup), can hold also between a subject and another type of phrase (ex. "Credevo [Giovanni]-SUBJ [felice]-PRED": I believed Giovanni glad). This type of predication is always expressed via a verb, and can be an argument of the verb or an additional dependent. So, among the various predicative complements, (Renzi vol. II) distinguishes two basic types:

- additional predicative complement (predicative modifier in our terminology), which may be added to many verbs (except copulas);

- argumental predicative complement (predicative complement in our terminology), which must be governed by a copula or by a verb having copulative function.

Moreover, predicative complements can refer either to the subject or to the object of the governing verb. Let's see some examples:

additional predicative complement:

'Mangia le patate crude' (OBJ): s/he eats the potatoes raw

'Maria nuota nuda' (SUBJ); Maria swims naked

argumental predicative complement:

'Credevo Giovanni felice' (OBJ): I believed Giovanni glad

'Lei sembrava contenta' (SUBJ): she seemed content

Predicative complements do not present particular problems for the annotation formalisms. They are kept apart argumentality (argumental: PREDCOMPL, accessory: RMODPRED), and to the referent (+SUBJ or +OBJ).

Example 7.1: Maria corre affannata (Mary runs breathless)

Example 7.2: Giovanni e' molto felice (Giovanni is very glad)

Example 7.3: Credevo Giovanni felice ([I] believed Giovanni glad)