Basic English Syntax with Exercises

finiteness

1.3.5.4 Complementisers

We saw above how inflectional elements determine the finiteness of the clause, with modal auxiliaries and tense appearing in finite clauses and the non-finite to appearing in non-finite clauses. Complementisers are also sensitive to finiteness. That and if always introduce finite clauses, while for always introduces non-finite clauses:

1.3.5.4 Complementisers

The complementisers that and for introduce declarative clauses, i.e. ones that make statements, while if introduces interrogative clauses, ones that ask questions. We can view this in terms of a set of non-categorial features which distinguish between the complementisers. These features are [±Wh] for the force of the clause and [±Fin] for the finiteness of the clause. The [+Wh] feature (pronounced ‘double‑u aitch’) indicates interrogative, based on the fact that interrogative pronouns such as who, what, where, etc. are written with an initial ‘wh’ and the [–Wh] feature indicates declarative. [+Fin] stands for finite and [–Fin] for non-finite. Thus, we have the following classification of complementise

8.1.1 Clauses without CP

Note that this has nothing to do with the finiteness of the complement clause, (10b) is just as ungrammatical as (10a) and the latter involves a non-finite clause. There is clearly a difference between verbs like believe which can take non-finite complement clauses with accusative subjects and verbs like hope which cannot. One observable difference between them is that hope can take a non-finite complement clause with a complementiser, but believe cannot: