Objeto direto: condições de omissão no português do Brasil

Abstract

Adopting a descriptive approach, this study focuses on what traditionally is called the direct object, of Brazilian Portuguese, especially the conditions of its omission. To find the direct object, we first need a definition of this syntactic function. To get to the object definition instrictly formal terms, we first define the subject, since the object is definited in contrast with the subject. A rule formulated by Perini (2008a) was used to identify the subject, and from it was possible to define the object as being a nonsubject noun phrase. The possibility ofoccurrence of noun phrases in object function divides the verbs between those that admit and those do not admit this complement, hence the importance of this syntactic function for the formulation of verb valencies. Our analysis is limited to simple sentences, and situational oranaphoric situations were not considered as, the omission of the direct object in these situations applies to any verb, annulling subclassification. Our research focused on two classes of verbs: location and change of location, and change of state verbs - internally and externally caused. The analysis of verb classes led us to conclude that the direct object in thesemantic role of Source, Path and Goal cannot be omitted; and the semantic role of Theme and Patient can be omitted only in some special situations.