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Complementizers and Embedded Clauses in English: The Data
Verbs selecting sentential complements place restrictions on
their complements, in particular, on the form of the embedded verb
phrase.8.4 Furthermore, complementizers are constrained to appear with certain
types of clauses, again, based primarily on the form of the embedded VP. For
example, hope selects both indicative and infinitival complements. With
an indicative complement, it may only have that or null as possible
complementizers; with an infinitival complement, it may only have a null
complementizer. Verbs that allow wh+ complementizers, such as ask, can
take whether and if as complementizers. The possible combinations
of complementizers and clause types is summarized in Table 8.1.
As can be seen in Table 8.1, sentential subjects differ from
sentential complements in requiring the complementizer that
for all indicative and subjunctive clauses. In sentential complements,
that often varies freely with a null complementizer, as
illustrated in ((15))-((20)).
(14)0(14
- (15)
- Christy hopes that Mike wins .
(15)0(15
- (16)
- Christy hopes Mike wins .
(16)0(16
- (17)
- Dania thinks that Newt is a liar .
(17)0(17
- (18)
- Dania thinks Newt is a liar .
(18)0(18
- (19)
- That Helms won so easily annoyed me .
(19)0(19
- (20)
- Helms won so easily annoyed me .
Complementizer: |
|
that |
whether |
if |
for |
null |
Clause type |
|
|
|
|
|
|
indicative |
subject |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
complement |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
infinitive |
subject |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
complement |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
subjunctive |
subject |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
complement |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
gerundive8.3 |
complement |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
base |
complement |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
small clause |
complement |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
- {Summary of Complementizer and Clause Combinations
Another fact which must be accounted for in the analysis is that in infinitival
clauses, the complementizer for must appear with an overt subject NP,
whereas a complementizer-less infinitival clause never has an overt subject, as
shown in ((21))-((24)). (See section 8.5 for more
discussion of the case assignment issues relating to this construction.)
(20)0(20
- (21)
- To lose would be awful .
(21)0(21
- (22)
- For Penn to lose would be awful .
(22)0(22
- (23)
- For to lose would be awful .
(23)0(23
- (24)
- Penn to lose would be awful .
In addition, some verbs select <wh>=+ complements (either questions
or clauses with whether or if) [#!grimshaw90!#]:
(24)0(24
- (25)
- Jesse wondered who left .
(25)0(25
- (26)
- Jesse wondered if Barry left .
(26)0(26
- (27)
- Jesse wondered whether to leave .
(27)0(27
- (28)
- Jesse wondered whether Barry left .
(28)0(28
- (29)
- Jesse thought who left .
(29)0(29
- (30)
- Jesse thought if Barry left .
(30)0(30
- (31)
- Jesse thought whether to leave .
(31)0(31
- (32)
- Jesse thought whether Barry left .
Next: Features Required
Up: Sentential Subjects and Sentential
Previous: S or VP complements?
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