“X-ga aru” Sentences Expressing Event Occurrence

Abstract

This paper examines the eventive “X-ga aru” sentences, specifically focusing on sentences in which the X is a verbal noun (VN). Although the verb aru in the eventive “X-ga aru” sentences has been characterized as “dynamic,” which contrasts with the stative aru in existential sentences, I argue that the dynamicity of aru in sentences differs: Some are relatively weak, whereas some are relatively strong. Therefore, according to this linguistic fact, the eventive “VN-ga aru” sentences can be grouped into two types: General-Event Type and Inverse-Event Type. These two types are characterized multidimensionally by their sentence structures and meanings, the subjectivity of expression, the argument realization of the VN, the semantics of aru, and so forth. I also claim that the dynamicity and the argument licensing ability of aru are related to the functional property of the verb, with the aru of the General-Event Type being less functional (more lexical) and that of the Inverse-Event Type being more functional (less lexical).