On the property analysis of opaque complements

In this paper, we regard Zimmermann’s [Natural Language Semantics 1 (1993) 149] property analysis of verbs of absence as a special case of the independent ability of verbs to take property-type complements [Ladusaw, W.A. (1994). Proceedings of SALT IV. Ithaca: CLC Publications, p. 220]. By integrating into this analysis a Quinian decomposition of verbs of absence we can tease apart the distinction between opaque and transparent, nonspecific complements, as well as the distinction between de dicto and de re readings of nonspecific complements. This prevents us from overgeneralizing transparent readings of inherently opaque complements and inherently opaque verbs and it helps us to answer some criticisms that Moltmann [Natural Language Semantics 5 (1997) 1] raises against Zimmermann’s proposal.