On pseudo-coordination in Spanish

Abstract

Abstract. Pseudo-coordination, that is, sequences of a least two verbs of the form raise a number of problems that stem from the fact that they share properties with a wide range of different syntactic phenomena. As regards Sp. schema, in this paper I address the discussion of whether it qualifies as a verbal periphrasis or not. A number of arguments are provided that show that the relation between V1 and V2 is not that of auxiliarization. Likewise, it is argued that its meaning is not aspectual. Instead, a stance is taken in favour of the analysis that argue that it is discourse related. In addition to this, it is shown that Sp. pseudo-coordinatives are subject to a high variation. Namely, V1 verbs may be divided into two big classes: go-class verbs, highly grammaticalized and, take-class verbs, less grammaticalized and with an agentive meaning. In addition to this, va y lit. goes and functions as an adverb, similarly to puede que lit. can that, ‘maybe’.

Keywords

• coordination
• pseudo-coordination
• auxiliary verbs
• construction
• grammaticalization
• aspect