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    Predication and noun incorporation
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    Predication may involve a Verb Phrase (VP) that is predicated of an argument. The relation between the predicate, the VP, and the argument may be modified by a copula, also called an aspectual verb, which provides an outer structure for the predicate and the argument. An example of a predication is provided below, in which the defining elements of a predication have been identified:

    Table 1
    Argument Copula Predicate
    Gemma bliuwt stean
    Gemma stays stand
    Gemma stays standing
    There are three types of predicative constructions. In a complementive construction, the presence of the predicate is required by the verb. Copulas may be involved in a relation of intransitive predication between a predicate and an argument. This argument functions as the subject in simple sentences. The set of copulas involved includes: wêze be, gean go, bliuwe stay, komme come and the copulas of quasi body posture such as sitte sit. modals such as moatte must and meie may can likewise mediate in a predication relation between an argument and a predicate. It is investigated if and to what extent these copulas combine with ordinary infinitives, gerundial infinitives, to-infinitives and infinitival clauses.

    Copulas of quasi body posture involve the predication of a location of a subject. Such copulas may also combine with to-infinitives. In the latter case, their locative interpretation is downplayed, and they acquire an aspectual interpretation. Two examples are given below:

    1
    a. It potlead stiet op tafel
    the pencil stand on table
    The pencil is standing on the table
    b. As er dêr sa yn 'e doar stie te kjeldskypjen
    when he there so in the doar stood to cold.catch
    When he stood there in the door, catching a cold

    A transitive predication consists of a transitive copula such as hawwe have or krije get, selecting a predicate, of which the subject is realised in the direct object position of the transitive copula. The copula and its structural subject provide the outer structure for the predication, the embedded predication consists of a direct object and a predicate. Two examples are given below:

    2
    a. Marten hat de Bibel op 'e knibbel
    Marten has the Bible on the knee
    Marten has the Bible on his knee
    b. Marten hat de frou siik
    Marten has the wife ill
    Marten's wife is ill

    In supplementive and appositive constructions, there is no copula to join predicate and argument. The predicate is an optional addition to a nominal argument. The following example illustrates the supplementive construction:

    3
    Gurbe sljurke laitsjende by de sleatswâl del
    Gurbe slid laughing at the ditch.side down
    Gurbe slid down the side of the ditch laughing

    In appositive structures, the predication is not integrated in the syntactic structure, as signalledd by the comma intonation. An example is provided below:

    4
    Gurbe, laitsjende, sljurke by de sleatswâl del
    Gurbe laughing slid at the ditch.side down
    Gurbe, laughing, slid down the side of the ditch
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    More details about predication and noun incorporation can be found by following the corresponding links:

    References
      About this article
      Author(s): Eric Hoekstra
      Category: Frisian Syntax
      Keywords: predicationnoun incorporationcomplementive constructioncopulasmodal
      Version: 1.0, December 2015
      Version history:
      version editor(s) date remarks
      1.0 Eric Hoekstra December 2015
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