Lexical specifications of paths

Natural language descriptions of motion frequently combine verbs of motion and directional prepositions. This article presents an analysis of German e xpressions from these two classes and their interaction. The focus is on th e spatial structures (called path) that link them. Paths and the relations accessing them are formally specified in a geometric framework and with ref erence to the situation structure. The analysis distinguishes verbs of moti on from other kinds of verbs that combine with directional adverbs. In addi tion, it provides a basis for explaining certain restrictions in combining verbs of motion with directional prepositional phrases and for comparing di fferent approaches to the same kind of expressions.