Chapter8 The Syntax of Non-Finite Clauses

In this chapter we will concentrate on the non-finite clause and investigate syntactic phenomena that are exclusive to it. There is a surprising amount of this and the non-finite clause is a far more varied structure than its finite counterpart. Much of this variation concerns the subject which in many cases has connections with the verb selecting the non-finite clause as its complement. Thus the boundaries of the clause become blurred at this point. Most of the structures we will look at in this chapter are infinitives, which as they contain both a tensed element and a complementiser have the kind of structure we have been discussing over the previous chapters. Not all of them, however, have identical structures and the amount of functional structure they contain is one of the axes of variation between non-finite clauses. We end the chapter with a look at probably one of the strangest constructions in English, the gerund. This has been claimed to have a status somewhat similar to a mythical beast, being half one creature, half another. The gerund displays certain properties of clauses but also certain properties of DPs. This makes it a very interesting structure to analyse from the X-bar perspective which claims that the properties of a structure come from its head.

8.3 The Gerund

8.4 Conclusion

In this chapter we have dealt with a number of phenomena concerning non-finite clauses in English. On the whole, the interesting aspect of these constructions concerns their subjects. We have seen various possibilities for empty subjects in non-finite clauses, as with raising and control structures, and also exceptional accusative subjects in other constructions as with exceptional and small clauses. The gerund offers problems for analysis all of its own. By and large, we have offered analyses for all these structures, but have left many issues undiscussed and have ignored many alternative analyses. We might hope that this book has interested the reader sufficiently for them to follow up what has been left out here in further reading and research.