Causee

Question

(3) Dr. Sheppard killed Roger Ackroyd.kill: CAUSE(x, BECOME(y, DEAD)) these verbs have CAUSE in their lexical decomposition, along with another action/verbalpredicate, but these components are not separable at the surface the `internal predicate' is intransitive; its argument is aected by the verb (causee)Can you please explain what is "the verb causee" please?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Tara2its argument is affected by the verb (causee)

I'm not really sure what the writer is trying to say there. It seems to be a roundabout way of saying that in the sentence Dr. Sheppard killed Roger Ackroyd, Ackroyd (the causee) is affected by Sheppard (the causer). Maybe someone else can help you disentangle the explanation.

Meanwhile, the following may shed some light on the word "causee".

That double e ending is borrowed from French. It's equivalent to the English ed, the past participle ending, i.e., the passive form.

x employs y. y is employed by x.
x is the employer. y is the employee.

x abducts y. y is abducted by x.
x is the abductor. y is the abductee.

x adopts y. y is adopted by x.
x is the adopter. y is the adoptee.

x causes y. y is caused by x.
x is the causer. y is the causee.

CJ

Causee

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