• Dutch
  • Frisian
  • Saterfrisian
  • Afrikaans
Show all
Types of to-infinitival clauses
quickinfo

Complements to the verb can be headed by a to-infinitive, although to-infinitives are also found in adjunct positions and in the complement position of other categories than the verb. Three examples involving to-infinitival clauses are given below:

1
a. Hy skynt [siik te wêzen]
he seems ill to be
He seems to be ill
b. Dat is [te begripen]
that is to understand
That is understandable
c. Jantsje holp ús [te oprêden]
Jantsje helped us to up.clean
Jantsje helped us cleaning up

Non-finite clauses involving a to-infinitive do not show uniform behaviour. Three types of to-infinitives will be distinguished, depending on the type of category which they pattern with and on their behaviour with respect to incorporation: verbal to-infinitives, adjectival to-infinitives and incorporating to-infinitives.

Incorporating to-infinitives can be further subdivided depending on the element by which they are selected.

readmore

More details about types of to-infinitival clauses can be found by following the corresponding links:

extra
Literature

More details can be found in De Haan (1987), Hoekstra (1997:chapter 4), and also in Hoekstra (1989).

References
  • Haan, Germen J. de1987De syntacticus als frisistDyk, Siebren & Hoekstra, Jarich (eds.)Ta de fryske syntaksis: lêzingen fan 'e Syntaksisdei fan it Taalkundich Wurkferbân fan 'e Fryske Akademy op 7 april 1984Ljouwert57-80
  • Hoekstra, Jarich1989A note on the typology of te-infinitives in FrisianNowele1419-51
  • Hoekstra, Jarich1997The syntax of infinitives in FrisianGroningenRijksuniversiteit GroningenThesis
printreport errorcite