Non-finite Complementation

A usage-based study of infinitive and -<i>ing</i> clauses in English
Erscheinungsjahr 2008
ISBN: 978-90-420-2359-8
Verlag: Brill | Rodopi

Buch, Englisch, Band 65, 432 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 230 mm, Gewicht: 871 g

Reihe: Language and Computers

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.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Computerlinguistik, Korpuslinguistik
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Grammatik, Syntax, Morphologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Einzelne Sprachen & Sprachfamilien

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgements
Preface
I: The purpose and scope of the study
II: Classification of the constructions
III: Earlier Studies
IV: Complement Types and Complementisers
V: Constructions in contrast: Same-time constructions
VI: Constructions in contrast: Forward-looking constructions
VII: Constructions in contrast: Backward-looking constructions
VIII: Summary and Conclusions
References
Appendices
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Thomas Egan is a senior lecturer in English language at Hedmark University College, Norway.