Resultative Interpretation of Predicates in Korean*

This paper deals with the two Korean periphrastic constructions yielding a resultative interpretation of their preceding predicate, namely -a/e iss- and -ko iss- constructions. After re-examining the assumption on the distribution of the two constructions explained by argument structures, it will be argued that, on the one hand, the distinction between unergative and unaccusative verbs need not be taken into account, insofar as it does not seem relevant in Korean, and, on the other hand, the resultative interpretation of Korean predicates derives from the combination between the argument structure of the verb iss- (‘exist’), the semantic structure of the preceding verb, and the way the connective markers a/e and -ko link two verbs.