CATENATIVE VERB
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Examples of Catenative Construction
Catenative verb is a chain of verbs occurring recursively in which all except the last have a non–finite complement.
It is that sort of verb which controls a non–finite complement.
In simple definition, catenative means chaining and reflects the way that the verb can link recursively with other catenatives to form a chain.
For Example:
- We decided to try to buy a house near the water park.
There are various constructive elements in this sentence:
- first, there is a chain of three verbs: decide, try and buy
- second, to try to buy a house near the water park functions as the catenative complement of decide, and
- third, to buy a house near the water park functions as the catenative complements of try.
Consider also this sentence:
- She seems to want to stop trying to avoid meeting him.
In the sentence, all the head verbs have a non-finite clause as complement. These are shown in the chart below:
| Head Verb | Complement |
|---|---|
| seems | to want to stop trying to avoid meeting him |
| want | to stop trying to avoid meeting him |
| stop | trying to avoid meeting him |
| trying | to avoid meeting him |
| avoid | meeting him |
- All the non–finite clause in the complement column functions as catenative complements.
- The head verbs in the first column are catenative verbs; and each of these verbs + complement pair forms what is called a catenative construction.
Like auxiliary verbsOpens in new window, catenative verbs are used in front of a main verb in its infinitiveOpens in new window form (including to).
Note that catenative verbs are sometimes used in combination with one another.
For Example:
- She managed to seem to be surprised.
- As time passes we begin to get to know each other better.
