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The main goal of this paper is to explain language variation, by focusing on the argument structure of locative verbs, which have so far received considerable attention due to their various syntactic behaviors. It has been reported that there are cross-linguistic differences in the syntactic structure of locative verbs. Nevertheless, I show that much of cross-linguistic variation in the syntax of locative verbs is restricted, dividing languages into two basic classes. Korean-type languages, which include Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Turkish, and Luganda, have a very simple pattern for locative verbs. Korean-type languages always allow Figure syntax as well as Ground syntax with change-of-state verbs that English allows only in Ground frames. In contrast, in English-type languages, which include English, French, Spanish, Singapore Malay, Najdi Arabic, and Hebrew, basic change-of-state verbs always allow Ground frames. In this paper, I provide an account for why Korean-type languages always allow Figure syntax as well as Ground syntax with Ground verbs (e.g., “fill”-class verbs) that English allows only Ground frames. I further suggest that the availability of Figure frames with a Ground verb correlate with the availability of V-V compounds or verb serialization.