In English and other languages, catenative verbs are
verbs
A verb is a word that generally conveys an action (''bring'', ''read'', ''walk'', ''run'', ''learn''), an occurrence (''happen'', ''become''), or a state of being (''be'', ''exist'', ''stand''). In the usual description of English, the basic fo ...
which can be followed within the same clause by another verb. This second subordinated verb can be in either the
infinitive
Infinitive ( abbreviated ) is a linguistics term for certain verb forms existing in many languages, most often used as non-finite verbs that do not show a tense. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all ...
(both full and bare) or
gerund
In linguistics, a gerund ( abbreviated ger) is any of various nonfinite verb forms in various languages; most often, but not exclusively, it is one that functions as a noun. The name is derived from Late Latin ''gerundium,'' meaning "which is ...
forms. An example appears in the sentence ''He deserves to win the cup'', where "deserve" is a catenative verb which can be followed directly by another verb, in this case a ''to-infinitive'' construction.
These verbs are called "catenative" because of their ability to form chains in catenative constructions. For example: ''We need to go to the tennis court to help Jim to get some practice before the game.'' "Need" is used here as a catenative verb followed by the infinitive "to go", and "help" is a catenative verb followed by the infinitive "to get".
Use of a catenative verb can be masked by
hendiadys, in which the two parts are joined by an ''and'', as in ''come and get it'' rather than ''come to get it''.
Form of the verb following the catenative verb
*Some catenative verbs are followed by a ''to''-infinitive: "He ''agreed'' to work on Saturday"
*Some catenative verbs are followed by a gerund: "He ''admitted'' taking the money".
*Some catenative verbs are followed by either a ''to''-infinitive or a gerund, either with or without a difference in meaning between the two structures:
**No difference in meaning:
***It ''began to rain''.
***It ''began raining''.
**Difference in meaning:
*** I ''forgot to go'' to the shopping centre. (I wanted to go to the shopping centre but then didn't go.)
*** I ''forgot going'' to the shopping centre. (I cannot remember the experience of going.)
*Some catenative verbs may be followed either by a
bare infinitive
Infinitive ( abbreviated ) is a linguistics term for certain verb forms existing in many languages, most often used as non-finite verbs that do not show a tense. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all ...
or by a ''to''-infinitive:
** I ''helped pack'' her bags.
** I ''helped to pack'' her bags.
** ''Go clean'' your room. ''This form is not standard in the UK, Australia or New Zealand.''
** ''Go to clean'' your room.
See also
*
Auxiliary verb
An auxiliary verb ( abbreviated ) is a verb that adds functional or grammatical meaning to the clause in which it occurs, so as to express tense, aspect, modality, voice, emphasis, etc. Auxiliary verbs usually accompany an infinitive verb or ...
*
*
Compound verb
In linguistics, a compound verb or complex predicate is a multi-word compound that functions as a single verb. One component of the compound is a '' light verb'' or ''vector'', which carries any inflections, indicating tense, mood, or aspect ...
*
Serial verb construction
References
* Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. ''A Student's Introduction to English Grammar'', Cambridge University Press, 2005
{{lexical categories, state=collapsed
Verb types