• Dutch
  • Frisian
  • Saterfrisian
  • Afrikaans
Show all
6.0.Introduction
quickinfo

Non-main verbs differ from main verbs in that they do not denote states of affairs, but express additional (e.g. aspectual) information about the state of affairs denoted by the main verb. This means that non-main verbs are always accompanied by a main verb. In addition, constructions with non-main verbs are characterized by the fact that the embedded main verb is never finite; its projection functions as the complement of the non-main verb: [... Vnon-main [... V[-finite] …]]. This chapter discusses three types of non-main verbs, which differ in the form of the non-finite main verb they select. For example, perfect auxiliaries such as hebbento have select past participles, semi-aspectual verbs such as zittento sit select te-infinitives, and aspectual verbs such as gaanto go select bare infinitives.

1
a. Jan heeft dat boek gelezen.
perfect auxiliary
  Jan has that book read
  'Jan has read that book.'
b. Jan zit dat boek te lezen.
semi-aspectual verb
  Jan sits that book to read
  'Jan is reading that book.'
c. Jan gaat dat boek lezen.
aspectual verb
  Jan goes that book read
  'Jan will read that book.'

This chapter is organized as follows. Section 6.1 begins by reviewing a number of characteristic properties of non-main verbs, and then introduces the three subtypes illustrated in (1) above. Sections 6.0 to 6.4 discuss these three subtypes in more detail.

readmore
References:
    report errorprintcite