BTAN11006BA/BTAN1104OMA The structure of English: The noun phrase and the verb phrase Infinitives, gerunds, participles 24/10/2017 Lecture 7
Structure of the lecture 1. An overview of the issues to be addressed 2. Verbal or non-verbal? Categorial problems 3. Clausal or non-clausal? Identifying subjects
An overview (1) I helped her do the washing up. (2) I wanted her to do the washing up. (3) I found her doing the washing up. (4) I like her doing the washing up.
An overview Two fundamental questions in the grammar of nonfinite verbal forms: (i) (ii) To what extent are these verbal? What other categorial properties do they show? To what extent do these verbal forms project a clause structure?
(i) Gerunds vs present participles (ii) The conversion of present and past participles
(5) I remember meeting them. (6) Meeting them was fun. (7) I'm thinking of meeting them. (8) I found meeting them boring. (9) I am meeting them tomorrow. (10) You won't see me meeting them. (11) Not having met for a year, I'm glad to see you now. (12) Anyone meeting them is in danger.
A list of differences (based on Bresnan 2000) (13) Susan discussed visiting Fred. (14) Susan kept visiting Fred.
Passivization (15) Visiting Fred was discussed by Susan. (16) *Visiting Fred was kept by Susan.
Clefting (17) John kept a dog at home. (18) It was a dog that John kept at home. (19) It was visiting Fred that Susan discussed. (20) *It was visiting Fred that Susan kept.
Topicalization (and pronominalization) (21) John kept a dog at home. (22) John likes cats but a dog he wouldn't want to keep. (23) Visiting Fred, Susan doesn't want to discuss (it). (24) *Visiting Fred, Susan doesn't want to keep (it).
Genitive subjects (25) Susan discussed our visiting Fred. (26) *Susan kept our visiting Fred.
The conversion of participles Participles often seem to have adjectival properties: (27) They are entertaining John. (28) They have frightened John. (29) This is entertaining. (30) John is frightened. (31) V ed /V ing Adj
Lexicalizations: changes in meaning (32) This book is interesting. (33) The picture was distorted. (34) They are really entertaining. (35) The door was broken. (36) The museum was closed at six.
Lexicalizations: changes in form (37) All the wine was drunk. (38) All the people were drunken. (39) He has learnt/learned the truth. (40) He was a serious scholar, a genuinely learned man.
Adjectival morphology (41) Peter unzipped his jacket. (42) Peter was unhappy. (42) The sacred jacket was unzipped by human hands. (43) The sacred jacket was untouched by human hands.
Adjectival distribution (44) Kate was very happy. (45) *Kate was very washed. (46) Kate was very frightened. (47) Kate seemed happy. (48) *Kate seemed washing. (49) Kate seemed frightening.
An outlook: bicategoriality is not simultaneous (50) Kate was very entertaining. (51) Kate was entertaining her husband. (52) *Kate was very entertaining her husband. (53) Kate's clownish non-singing of the national anthem. (54) Kate's clownishly not singing the national anthem. (55) *Kate's clownishly non-singing the national anthem.
Identifying subjects When non-finite forms are verbal in nature, they function as (reduced) clauses. As such, they have their own subject: (56) I told John to go home. (57) I told John that he should go home. We briefly overview here the main strategies that are used to introduce or identify these non-finite subjects.
Identifying subjects Overt non-finite subjects (58) I consider this to be the best solution. (59) We should let the situation unfold. (60) I like them being here. (61) I found John sleeping. (62) I like their being here.
Identifying subjects Overt non-finite subjects (63) I am waiting for John to arrive. (64) It is unpleasant for me to be here. (65) It is unpleasant for me for you to be here.
Identifying subjects Controlling covert non-finite subjects (66) I hope to see you soon. (67) I taught them to read. (68) Being unfamiliar with these kinds of people, a. John really frightened Kate. b. John really avoided Kate.
Identifying subjects Controlling covert non-finite subjects (69) I came here to surround the house. (70) I wanted to surround the house. (71) #I tried to surround the house. (72) Surrounding the house is good. (73) It is forbidden to surround the house.