Grammaticalization of Chinese Passive Markers

Abstract

There are different limitations on Chinese passive markers due to different grammaticalization processes. As an original passive marker bei, the short passive, in which an action’s result was implied, was first used. After the long passive was derived, the whole event could be described. However, in the new passive form, only the result is profiled. Jiao/rang’s passive usage derives from its causative usage; thus, the whole event including the agent needs to be shown. As a situation trigger gei, the agent can be omitted if its influence is obvious. Only bei is acceptable if there is no direct influence.