The semantics of the nominal predicate with aspect copula verbs of continuation

Aspect copula verbs with the semantics of continuation, being able to be followed by Participle II as a complement are considered in the article as operators of the nominal predicate where they acquire the "double" semantics. The investigation focuses on the semantic analysis of the structure remain /keep/stay + Participle II in English which can be either an aspect modification of be-passive or so called "quasi-passive". The research is performed on the basis of text-corpus data of the English language presented in online resource IntelliText Corpus; the statistics of the frequency of the copula verbs is based on the British National Corpus. The semantic analysis which comprises the level of the thematic relations (participants of the situation) and the reference brings to light the semantic role of the first actant and "hidden" referent; the transformation method was used to differentiate the passive voice and the "quasipassive". In the course of the analysis the interaction between the first actant and the copula verb as well as the compliment (Participle II) was taken into account. Several semantic groups of participles, both neutral and with connotative meaning, tending to interact with aspect copula verbs are established. The research reveals several factors that affect the connotation and cause the metaphoric process. The distinctive feature of aspect copulas is their ability to be followed by the negative form of participle which intensifies the semantics of continuation. Regardless of the syncretism of the structure remain /keep/stay + Participle II, aspect copula verbs ought to be considered an element of the alternation system of be-passive and "quasipassive".