cracked open

[orangutan]

He cracked a gourd open.
A gourd was cracked open.

"Open" in this example is a resultative complement (or resultative secondary predicate). It is predicated of the direct object, so there is no question of an adjective modifying a verb. Both "gourd" and "open" are normally taken as complements of "cracked", thus extending the latter's valence.

In the passivized version, the "was" is most naturally taken, I think, as an ordinary passive auxiliary.

[orangutan]

Would you please answer this question.

Thanks!

By the way, people will answer when they are ready to, and if they are interested. They are not at your beck and call.

[svartnik]

He cracked a gourd open.
A gourd was cracked open.

"Open" in this example is ... (secondary predicate).

Hello Anthony

'secondary' means what? predicate means it describes the direct object?

In the passivized version, the "was" is most naturally taken, I think, as an ordinary passive auxiliary.

Absolutely.

[orangutan]

Hello Peter,

Hello Anthony

'secondary' means what? predicate means it describes the direct object?

No, just that it is not the main (or "primary") predication of the sentence. It contributes additional information, so to speak, to a sentence which is already semantically complete.

He cracked the gourd - already a complete sentence.
He cracked the gourd open - gives extra information about the resulting state.

[svartnik]

Hello Peter,



No, just that it is not the main (or "primary") predication of the sentence.

I thought as much - just wanted to make sure.

It contributes additional information, so to speak, to a sentence which is already semantically complete.

He cracked the gourd - already a complete sentence.
He cracked the gourd open - gives extra information about the resulting state.

Alles clar. Danke sehr!

[orangutan]

Kérem szépen. ;)

[svartnik]

Kérem szépen. ;)

[Ferdie11]

Hands on heart I did not take the example sentences from there. Besides, I cannot find them there.



So am I.

A gourd was cracked open. -- In this sentence the copula is 'was' in my opinion. What is 'cracked open' then? 'cracked open' is an adjectival idiom which has unitary meaning.

(these ideas were not taken from CGEL)

The sun shone. -- not a copular use of shone
The sun shone bright -- copular use to describe the sun
The sun shone brightly -- no copular use; brightly describes action

You agree?

Can you give more examples of adjectival idiom?

[Ferdie11]

Is the open used here as an adverb. Thanks.