Abstract

We argue that copular constructions that relate two referring expressions are based on small clauses with an asymmetrical semantics. The small clauses in question are headed by a relational item that selects for an individual and an individual concept, along the lines proposed by Heycock (Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique 57: 209–240, 2012 ). Our analysis allows us to explain the asymmetric properties of these constructions when they occur as complements to _think_. Additional motivation comes from facts that involve questions based on copular clauses.