“很”字的虚化过程

Grammaticalization of Chinese Character "hen"

从先秦到唐宋,"很"一直用作形容词。元明以后"很"虚化为程度副词。现代汉语里,"很"除修饰形容词、心理感知动词和能愿动词之外,还可以修饰普通动词短语或形容词短语,此时"很"不表示程度,只表示动作进行的次数多、延续时间长或表示强调的语气。这说明"很"又进一步向语气副词虚化。

From pre-qin to Tang Song, 'hen' serves as the adjective continuously. After Yuan Ming Dynasty 'hen' grammaticalizes into the degree adverb. In modem Chinese, 'hen' except decorating the adjective, the psychological sensation verb and volitive auxiliary,but also may decorate the ordinary verb phrase or the adjective phrase .Now 'hen' does not express the degree .Only expressed many times of the movement, the long time's duration or the emphasis expression It concludes that 'hen'further approaches the modal adverbs.