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E-book
Author Egan, Thomas

Title Non-finite complementation : a usage-based study of infinitive and -ing clauses in English / Thomas Egan
Published Amsterdam ; New York, NY : Rodopi, 2008

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Description 1 online resource
Series Language and computers ; no. 65
Language and computers ; no. 65.
Contents Non-finite Complementation; Contents; Acknowledgements; Preface; Chapter 1 The purpose and scope of the study; Chapter 2 Classification of the constructions; Chapter 3 Earlier Studies; Chapter 4 Complement Types and Complementisers; Chapter 5 Constructions in contrast: Same-time constructions; Chapter 6 Constructions in contrast: Forward-looking constructions; Chapter 7 Constructions in contrast: Backward-looking constructions; Chapter 8 Summary and Conclusions; References; Appendix 1 The Matrix verbs; Appendix 2 Tables; Appendix 3 List of technical terms; Index
Summary 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
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes English
Print version record
Subject Grammar, Comparative and general -- Infinitival constructions.
Grammar, Comparative and general -- Complement.
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES -- Grammar & Punctuation.
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES -- Linguistics -- Syntax.
Grammar, Comparative and general -- Complement
Grammar, Comparative and general -- Infinitival constructions
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9781435633254
1435633253
9789401205542
940120554X
9042023597
9789042023598