The limits of verb serialization

Abstract

In some languages, verb serialization is productive. Others have just a few kinds of serial verbs. Limited verb serialization can be restricted to just a few directional verbs. Serial verbs need to be kept separate from clause sequences and multi-verb constructions of other kinds including coordinate and subordinate constructions and multi-verb constructions involving converbs and participles. Depending on their form, serial verbs may show similarities with other verb-verb combinations. Those which consist of several grammatical words need to be distinguished from other multi-word verb sequences—including coordinated clauses and clause chains. Monoclausal verb-verb sequences which may share some semantic similarities with serial verbs include constructions with auxiliary verbs and dependent verb forms (including converbs). Single-word serial verbs need to be distinguished from unproductive and lexically restricted verbal compounds. Productive serial verbs will have no restrictions on the mood, modality, and polarity, unlike quasi-serial verbs such as American English go eat.