Alternation ‘Abstract subject’ (Uncoded)

Some verbs of physical affect, perhaps predominantly verbs depicting effects on the human body, can take abstract subjects depicting illnesses, social conditions, and the like, e.g. Obesity (loneliness, unemployment) can kill, or events, e.g. The explosion (fire, etc.) killed dozens of people. There are reasons to believe that this is a distinct polysemic extension of the primary kill meaning; for example, no instrument is possible.

Verb Meaning Verb form Basic coding frame Derived coding frame Occurs Comment # Ex.