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- Title
A FEATURE ANALYSIS OF TO-INFINITIVE SENTENCES.
- Authors
Ojea, Ana
- Abstract
This paper analyses the syntactic structure of to-infinitive sentences in English, focusing on the grammatical features that may characterize them. In particular I argue that these clauses are introduced by the features [±assertion] and [-indicative], and that the particle to has a modal value which is a remnant of its prepositional origin. These assumptions will allow me to explain their differences and similarities not only with indicative and subjunctive sentential complements but also with other non-finite forms such as -ing participle clauses and the bare infinitive. The feature analysis that is defended here, together with the prepositional nature of the particle to, will also help account for some relevant contrasts between English and Spanish in these constructions.
- Subjects
ENGLISH infinitives; INFINITIVAL constructions; MOOD (Grammar); ENGLISH clauses; SPEECH acts (Linguistics); SYNTAX in the English language
- Publication
Atlantis (0210-6124), 2008, Vol 30, Issue 1, p69
- ISSN
0210-6124
- Publication type
Article