Non-finite Complementation: A Usage-based Study of Infinitive and -ing Clauses in EnglishRodopi, 2008 - 432 pages This book presents a comprehensive guide to the way speakers of British English use infinitive and -"-ing" clauses as verbal complements. It contains details of the non-finite complementation patterns of over 300 matrix verbs, with a particular emphasis on verbs that occur with more than one type of non-finite complement. Drawing upon data from the British National Corpus, the author shows that some of the views which are to be found in the existing literature on these sorts of clauses are in conflict with the evidence of actual usage. He also shows that there is actually much more regularity in this area than has often been taken to be the case. Moreover, this regularity is shown to be motivated by cognitive-functional factors. An appendix contains details of the relative frequency of all of the constructions dealt with in the study, together with an example of each of them. The book is of interest to language teachers as well as linguists, both theoretical and applied. Thomas Egan is a senior lecturer in English language at Hedmark University College. |
Contents
1 | |
19 | |
Chapter 3 Earlier Studies | 45 |
Chapter 4 Complement Types and Complementisers | 89 |
Sametime constructions | 145 |
Forwardlooking constructions | 199 |
Backwardlooking constructions | 281 |
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Non-finite Complementation: A usage-based study of infinitive and -ing ... Thomas Egan Limited preview - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
action activity actually adverbial allow alternative appear Applied Attitude Aspect Attitude constructions Backward-looking bare inf begin BNC Same-subject Different-subject Causation cause cease Chapter characterisation Communication Communication construction complement clause complement form complement situation consider constructions containing containing Contemplation contexts continue contrast described difference Different-subject to inf discussion distinction domain Duffley Enablement encode English event examples exemplified existence expect extended fact Figure force Forward-looking four future gerund hand hate illustrated imply infinitive complements infinitive constructions instance intend involving Judgement Langacker linguistic look matrix verb meaning Mental Process mentioned nature non-finite Note occasions occurs particular past Perception positive possible predications present profiled progressive projected prototypical question realisation reason refer remember resemble respect S2 to infinitive Same-time semantic sense similar sort speaker specific stop Table tokens types various viewed whole writes
Popular passages
Page 1 - Substantial importance is given to the actual use of the linguistic system and a speaker's knowledge of this use; the grammar is held responsible for a speaker's knowledge of the full range of linguistic conventions, regardless of whether these conventions can be subsumed under more general statements.