Thick vs Thin Causative Verb Data

@cite{martin-rose-nichols-2025} @cite{embick-2009}

Corpus survey data from Table 3: 37 English causative verbs classified by four binary properties:

1. alternating: Participates in the causative/anticausative alternation
2. thick: Encodes manner of causing (subject restriction on abstract causes)
3. ASR: Compatible with strong adjectival resultatives (break open)
4. omissionSubjects: Compatible with omission/quality-denoting subjects

Key Findings (§4.3)

• 12/13 thick verbs have ASR, 22/24 thin verbs accept omission subjects
• Thick ≈ causative manner verbs, but bury is thick without ASR
• The correlation is strong but not perfect: some thick verbs (burn, lift, lock) are occasionally found with omission subjects in corpora

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.activate : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.activate = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.activate

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.affect : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.affect = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.affect

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.change : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.change = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.change

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.damage : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.damage = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.damage

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.destroy : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.destroy = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.destroy

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.eliminate : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.eliminate = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.eliminate

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.hurt : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.hurt = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.hurt

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.kill : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.kill = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.kill

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.restore : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.restore = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.restore

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.start : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.start = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.start

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.stop : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.stop = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.stop

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.trigger : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.trigger = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.trigger

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.break_ : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.break_ = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.break_

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.burn : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.burn = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.burn

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.bury : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.bury = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.bury

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.cut : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.cut = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.cut

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.drop : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.drop = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.drop

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.lift : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.lift = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.lift

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.lock : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.lock = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.lock

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.melt : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.melt = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.melt

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.mix : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.mix = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.mix

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.shut : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.shut = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.shut

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.spread : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.spread = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.spread

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.stretch : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.stretch = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.stretch

@[reducible, inline]

abbrev Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.switch : Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.switch = Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.switch

structure Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.ThickThinEntryextends Fragments.English.Predicates.Verbal.VerbEntry : Type

A single verb entry from Table 3, extending a Fragment VerbEntry. The Levin class, verb form, root profile, etc. are all inherited from the Fragment entry — only the @cite{martin-rose-nichols-2025} annotations are new.

• form : String
• complementType : ComplementType
• subjectTheta : Option ThetaRole
• objectTheta : Option ThetaRole
• object2Theta : Option ThetaRole
• subjectEntailments : Option Semantics.Events.ProtoRoles.EntailmentProfile
• objectEntailments : Option Semantics.Events.ProtoRoles.EntailmentProfile
• controlType : ControlType
• altComplementType : Option ComplementType
• altControlType : ControlType
• unaccusative : Bool
• passivizable : Bool
• speechActVerb : Bool
• vendlerClass : Option Semantics.Tense.Aspect.LexicalAspect.VendlerClass
• degreeAchievementScale : Option Semantics.Lexical.Verb.DegreeAchievement.DegreeAchievementScale
• verbIncClass : Option Semantics.Events.Krifka1998.VerbIncClass
• presupType : Option PresupTriggerType
• selectsDimension : Option Semantics.Probabilistic.Measurement.Dimension
• cosType : Option Semantics.Lexical.Verb.ChangeOfState.CoSType
• factivePresup : Bool
• implicativeBuilder : Option Nadathur2023.Implicative.ImplicativeBuilder
• causativeBuilder : Option NadathurLauer2020.CausativeBuilder
• causalSource : Option Semantics.Causation.PsychCausation.CausalSource
• opaqueContext : Bool
• attitudeBuilder : Option AttitudeBuilder
• takesQuestionBase : Bool
• complementSig : Option NaturalLogic.EntailmentSig
• senseTag : SenseTag
• levinClass : Option LevinClass
• rootProfile : Option RootProfile
• form3sg : String
• formPast : String
• formPastPart : String
• formPresPart : String
• isRegular : Bool
• alternating : Bool

  Participates in causative/anticausative alternation

• thick : Bool

  Thick = encodes manner of causing (rejects abstract subjects in physical sense)

• asr : Bool

  Compatible with strong adjectival resultatives

• omissionSubjects : Bool

  Compatible with omission or quality-denoting subjects

• thickThinClass : MartinRoseNichols2025.ThickThinClass

  Thick/thin classification from theory

instance Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.instReprThickThinEntry : Repr ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.instReprThickThinEntry = { reprPrec := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.instReprThickThinEntry.repr }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.instReprThickThinEntry.repr : ThickThinEntry → ℕ → Std.Format

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.ThickThinEntry.verb (e : ThickThinEntry) : String

Verb form (convenience accessor).

Equations

• e.verb = e.form

Table 3 data (representative subset)

We include all 13 thick verbs and a representative set of thin verbs covering the key patterns. Numbers in comments refer to Table 3 rows.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.activate : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.activate = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.activate, alternating := true, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.affect : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.affect = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.affect, alternating := false, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.change : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.change = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.change, alternating := true, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.damage : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.damage = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.damage, alternating := false, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.destroy : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.destroy = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.destroy, alternating := false, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.eliminate : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.eliminate = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.eliminate, alternating := false, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.hurt : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.hurt = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.hurt, alternating := false, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.kill, alternating := false, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.restore : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.restore = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.restore, alternating := false, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.start : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.start = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.start, alternating := true, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := true }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.stop : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.stop = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.stop, alternating := true, thick := false, asr := false, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.trigger : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_ : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_ = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.break_, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.burn : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.bury : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.cut : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.cut = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.cut, alternating := false, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.drop : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.drop = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.drop, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.lift : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.lock : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.melt : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.melt = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.melt, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.mix : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.mix = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.mix, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.shut : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.shut = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.shut, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.spread : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.spread = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.spread, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.stretch : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.stretch = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.stretch, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.switch : ThickThinEntry

Equations

• Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.switch = { toVerbEntry := Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.V.switch, alternating := true, thick := true, asr := true, omissionSubjects := false }

Per-datum verification theorems

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_is_thick : break_.thick = true

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.burn_is_thick : burn.thick = true

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.bury_is_thick : bury.thick = true

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.melt_is_thick : melt.thick = true

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.cut_is_thick : cut.thick = true

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill_is_thin : kill.thick = false

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.destroy_is_thin : destroy.thick = false

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.damage_is_thin : damage.thick = false

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.change_is_thin : change.thick = false

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.bury_thick_no_asr : bury.thick = true ∧ bury.asr = false

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.bury_is_thick_state : bury.thickThinClass = MartinRoseNichols2025.ThickThinClass.thickState

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_verb : break_.verb = "break"

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill_verb : kill.verb = "kill"

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.destroy_verb : destroy.verb = "destroy"

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_levin : break_.levinClass = some LevinClass.break_

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill_levin : kill.levinClass = some LevinClass.murder

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.destroy_levin : destroy.levinClass = some LevinClass.destroy

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.cut_levin : cut.levinClass = some LevinClass.cut

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.burn_levin : burn.levinClass = some LevinClass.otherCoS

Bridge to ThickThinClass

Verify that the data entries' classifications match the theory.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_production_constraint : MartinRoseNichols2025.productionConstraint break_.thickThinClass = MartinRoseNichols2025.CausationType.production

Thick manner verbs have the production constraint.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill_dependence : MartinRoseNichols2025.productionConstraint kill.thickThinClass = MartinRoseNichols2025.CausationType.dependence

Thin verbs default to dependence.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.bury_production_constraint : MartinRoseNichols2025.productionConstraint bury.thickThinClass = MartinRoseNichols2025.CausationType.production

Bury (thick state) also has the production constraint.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_asr_theory : break_.thickThinClass.strongASRCompatible = true

Thick manner verbs are ASR-compatible per the theory.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.bury_asr_theory : bury.thickThinClass.strongASRCompatible = false

Thick state verbs are NOT ASR-compatible per the theory.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill_asr_theory : kill.thickThinClass.strongASRCompatible = false

Thin verbs are NOT ASR-compatible per the theory.

Bridge to @cite{levin-1993} classes

The thick/thin distinction cross-cuts Levin classes: verbs in the same general domain (change of state, causation) can be thick or thin. The difference is whether the verb specifies manner of causing.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_destroy_same_components : LevinClass.break_.meaningComponents.changeOfState = LevinClass.destroy.meaningComponents.changeOfState ∧ LevinClass.break_.meaningComponents.causation = LevinClass.destroy.meaningComponents.causation

Break (thick) and destroy (thin) both have CoS + causation in their Levin meaning components. The thick/thin split is orthogonal to the basic meaning component profile.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.break_class_predicts_alternation : LevinClass.break_.participatesIn DiathesisAlternation.causativeInchoative = true

Thick manner verbs belong to Levin classes that predict the causative alternation.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.cut_class_rich_alternation : LevinClass.cut.participatesIn DiathesisAlternation.causativeInchoative = false ∧ LevinClass.cut.participatesIn DiathesisAlternation.conative = true ∧ LevinClass.cut.participatesIn DiathesisAlternation.bodyPartPossessorAscension = true

Cut (thick) is in a class that predicts conative and BPPA alternations. Unlike break, cut does NOT participate in causative/inchoative because instrument specification blocks the inchoative.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.destroy_class_vs_empirical : LevinClass.destroy.participatesIn DiathesisAlternation.causativeInchoative = true ∧ destroy.alternating = false

Destroy (thin) is also predicted to participate in causative alternation by its meaning components, but empirically it does not alternate. This shows the limits of meaning-component prediction.

theorem Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.kill_class_vs_empirical : LevinClass.murder.participatesIn DiathesisAlternation.causativeInchoative = true ∧ kill.alternating = false

Kill (thin, murder class) is predicted to participate in causative alternation but empirically does not alternate.

def Phenomena.Causatives.ThickThin.allEntries : List ThickThinEntry

All ThickThin verb entries (for aggregate bridge theorems).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.