汉语名源动词可以从“构词—句法”的角度得到合理的分析，该分析选取的理论框架包括一条显性的句法操作和两种轻语类。前者是指动词补语并移，即动词**语移位时，可能连带其补语中除指示语外的部分并移；该操作作为一种选择性的动词移位方式，在一定的允准条件下发生，得到广泛的经验支持。后者包括元动词和虚介词。元动词独立于核心功能语类口和助动词，和普通实义动词同属词汇语类V；虚介词是一种连接不及物动词与其后名词性成分的语类。
根据Vendler（1967）的事态类型，汉语名源动词可分为状态类、成就类、完成类和活动类四种，每一类名源动词都通过动词补语并移这一显性句法操作而生成，该操作涉及一个或一个以上处于动词**语位置V的元动词和动词短语VP的补语位置上以一个虚介词为**语和源名词为补语的介词短语PP。四类名源动词的推导所涉及的元动词的种类和数量有所不同，但推导所依赖的句法结构和句法操作是一样的。基于轻语类的动词补语并移对汉语中的名词动词化现象提供了简洁、统一和系统的解释。
汉语名源动词的句法推导为以下相关现象提供了解释：①状态／成就类名源动词与完成／活动类名源动词在数量上的不对称以及名词和形容词在动

序
Acknowledgements
Abstract
摘要
Glossary
Chapter I Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Denominal Verbs in Chinese
1.2.1 The Criteria
1.2.2 The Data
1.2.3 Semantic Properties of DNVs
1.3 Previous Approaches to DNVs
1.3.1 The Lexical/Morphological Approach
1.3.2 The Pragmatic Approach
1.3.3 The Lexical-semantic Approach
1.3.4 The Syntactic Approach
1.3.5 Summary
1.4 Rationale for This Research and Questions to Be Addressed
1.5 A Syntactic Approach to Chinese DNVs: An Overview
Chapter 2 The V-bar Pied-piping Hypothesis
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The V-bar Pied-piping Hypothesis
2.2.1 Dative Shift Under Current Theories on Verb-related Movement
2.2.2 The V' Reanalysis Hypothesis
2.2.3 The V-bar Pied-piping Hypothesis
2.2.4 Licensing V-bar Pied-piping
2.3 Explaining Some （A）symmetries of Syntactic Domains
2.4 Explaining Some Natural Word Order Phenomena
2.4.1 Adjuncts.
2.4.2 Verb Particles
2.4.3 Extraposition
2.4.4 Inversion
2.5 Deriving Compound Verbs in Chinese
2.5.1 Verb-Directional/-Phase Constructions in Chinese
2.5.2 Verb-Resultative Constructions in Chinese
2.5.3 Light Verb Constructions in Chinese
2.6 Summary
Chapter 3 Semantic Light Categories in Chinese
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Light Verbs: Syntactic vs. Semantic
3.2.1 The Meanings of Light Verb
3.2.2 Light Verb v vs. Proto-verbs
3.2.3 Proto-verbs vs. Canonical Verbs
3.2.4 Auxiliary Verbs.
3.3 Null Prepositions in Chinese
3.3.1 Variety and Unselectiveness of Verbal Objects
3.3.2 The Null Preposition Hypothesis
3.3.3 Some Consequences
3.4 Summary
Chapter 4 Syntactic Derivation of DNVs
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Reclassifying DNVs in Chinese
4.2.1 Aspectual Classes of Verbs
4.2.2 Aspectual Classes of Chinese DNVs
4.3 Deriving DNVs via Syntax
4.3.1 Deriving Sta-DNVs
4.3.2 Deriving Ach-DNVs
4.3.3 Deriving'Acc-DNVs
4.3.4 Deriving Act-DNVs
4.4 Summary
Chapter 5 Syntax-Induced Properties of DNVs
5.1 Introduction
5.2 The Inter-Class Quantitative Asymmetry
5.3 The Inter-Categorical Asymmetry
5.4 The Pattern of Aspectual Shift with DNVs
5.4.1 State-to-Achievement Shift
5.4.2 Achievement-to-Accomplishment Shift
5.4.3 Accomplishment-to-Achievement Shift
5.4.4 Achievement-to-State Shift
5.4.5 Some Caveats
5.5 Accomplishment Verbs in Chinese
5.5.1 The Traditional View
5.5.2 Object-coerced Accomplishment Verbs
5.5.3 Syntactically-derived Accomplishment Verbs
5.6 Determination of the Aktionsart of DNVs
5.6.1 Definiteness of Objects
5.6.2 Boundedness of Objects
5.6.3 Boundedness of Source Nouns
5.6.4 Proto-verbs
5.7 Eventuality Structure of DNVs
5.7.1 The Singular-headedness of Sta- and Act-DNVs
5.7.2 The Double-headedness of Ach-DNVs
5.7.3 The Triple-headedness of Acc-DNVs
5.8 Semantic Generation of DNVs.
5.8.1 The Basics of Generative Lexicon
5.8.2 Generating the Semantics of Sta-DNVs
5.8.3 Generating the Semantics of Ach-DNVs
5.8.4 Generating the Semantics of Acc-DNVs
5.8.5 Generating the Semantics of Act-DNVs
5.8.6 Functioning of Proto-verbs
5.9 Summary
Chapter 6 A Comparative Perspective on DNVs
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Asymmetries Between Chinese and English DNVs
6.2.1 Quantitative Asymmetry
6.2.2 Typological Asymmetry
6.2.3 Aspectual Asymmetry
6.3 Potential Parametric Variations
6.3.1 Activity vs. Inertness of Null Preposition
6.3.2 Prominence vs. Dormancy of Proto-verbs
6.3.3 Applicability of V-bar Pied-piping
6.4 The Account for the Asymmetries
6.4.1 Explaining the Quantitative Asymmetry
6.4.2 Explaining the Typological Asymmetry
6.4.3 Explaining the Aspectual Asymmetry
6.5 Summary
Chapter 7 A Diachronic Perspective on Chinese DNVs
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Characteristics of Classical Chinese DNVs
7.3 Light Categories and V-bar Pied-piping in Classical Chinese
7.3.1 Null Prepositions in Classical Chinese Syntax
7.3.2 Proto-verbs in Classical Chinese Syntax
7.3.3 V-bar Pied-piping in Classical Chinese Syntax
7.3.4 Classical Chinese DNVs: A Paradox
7.4 A Minimalist Account
7.4.1 Patterns of Feature Bundling
7.4.2 Strength of Morphemes
7.4.3 The Account
7.5 The Extension of Light Categories from Syntax to Morphology
7.5.1 The Denominal Prefixs- in Early Archaic Chinese
7.5.2 The Denominal Falling Tone in Middle Archaic Chinese
7.5.3 Denominal Light Categories in Modern Chinese
7.6 Summary
Chapter 8 Concluding Remarks
8.1 Major Findings
8.2 Limitations
Appendix
References

用形式主义语言学的理论和方法研究我们的民族语言是一片风光无限的天地。中国台湾学者、中国香港学者和美国的华裔学者在这方面做了开创性的工作，贡献很大。
“名词动用”在古代汉语中，其用例俯拾皆是，和现代英语的情形非常相似；可在现代汉语中，“名词动用”就不能随心所欲了，和现代英语的情形相去甚远。是什么造就了这种跨语言的差异？国内外现有的研究大都从语用、认知、功能等这些外部角度探讨这个问题。本书主要探讨汉语名源动词构成中的句法机制。