Aspectos semánticos de los complementos absolutos

Abstract

In this paper we examine some properties of Spanish Absolute Constructions (ACs) and propose two basic types: one verbal; introduced by a preposition and with an infinitive as predicate; the other predicative; headed by gerunds; participles or nonverbal elements. A type of AC not discussed in the literature is examined; it exhibits a sequence of gerunds. Its analisis allows us to propose an underlying representation with the properties of a gerund to unify the second group of ACs. It is shown that the aspectual properties of predicative ACs correlate with those of attribution by means of ser and estar. The relationship between Implication and Aspect in ACs is also examined; it is concluded that ACs are basically implicative but that the presence of an aspectual element may blur it.