On the property analysis of opaque complements

Abstract

In this paper, we regard Zimmermann’s/n(1993) property analysis of verbs of absence as a/nspecial case of the/nindependent ability of verbs to take property-type complements (see Ladusaw, 1994)./nBy integrating into this analysis a Quinian decomposition/nof verbs of absence we can tease apart the/ndistinction between opaque and/ntransparent, nonspecific complements, as well as the distinction between/nde dicto and de re readings of/nnonspecific complements. This prevents us from overgeneralizing/ntransparent readings of inherently opaque complements and/ninherently opaque verbs and it helps us to/nanswer some criticisms that Moltmann (1997) raises against Zimmermann’s proposal.