English verb classes and alternations: A preliminary investigation. By Beth Levin. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1993. Pp. xviii, 345. Cloth $45.00, paper $18.95.

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Abstract

bibliography and index) is therefore something like a dictionary, and accordingly difficult to review exhaustively. Some clarification of the book's contents may be in order. After an introduction, which sets out the theoretical perspective of the book, and which we shall discuss below, the first part deals with various essentially syntactic alternations that verbs are subject to. Beginning with transitivity alternations, such as the well-known middle, causative-inchoative, and some lesser-known such as "characteristic property of instrument alternation," we move on to alternations involving arguments within the VP, such as dative shift, double object constructions, and spray paint constructions. Next come cases of "oblique" subjects (instruments, locations, etc), reflexives, passives, subject inversions, cognate objects, and so on. In each case, the construction is explained, bibliographic references are provided, often in abundance (this is one of the book's major strengths), follo

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