Resultative

The adjective 'resultative' describes something that expresses or produces a result, outcome, or consequence. It often applies to grammatical constructions (specifically resultative constructions or resultative verbs) where a verb describes an action alongside the outcome of that action. Beyond grammar, it can refer to any process, action, or phenomenon where a specific outcome follows. This implies a causal relationship and highlights the consequence of an action or state. Understanding resultative elements helps decipher the nuances of cause and effect within sentences, arguments, or even physical occurrences. resultative constructions add precision and richness to descriptions.

Resultative meaning with examples

• The sculptor hammered the metal flat. 'Flat' functions as the resultative adjective, describing the outcome of the hammering action. This type of construction adds conciseness, conveying both the action and the resulting state. The result is a focused depiction of the action's consequence.
• She painted the door blue. In this sentence, 'blue' acts as a resultative complement, specifying the color that the door became as a result of the painting action. The resultative structure enables a streamlined representation of the process and its outcome, highlighting the change in state.
• The detectives questioned the witness speechless. 'Speechless' indicates the result of the questioning. It shows a direct causal link between the action of questioning and the witness's state. This kind of resultative construction helps emphasize the impact of the action on the subject.
• The chef grilled the steak charred. The adjective 'charred' reflects the outcome caused by the grilling process. resultative constructions help to create vivid images within a concise context, the result of this being both memorable and descriptive.
• Constant rain caused the ground soggy. 'Soggy' is the result of the rain and it shows the resulting state of the ground due to the rain. The resultative adjective adds a layer of depth by clearly specifying what happened due to the first action described.