In English and other languages, catenative verbs are

verbs A verb () is a word (part of speech) that in syntax generally conveys an action (''bring'', ''read'', ''walk'', ''run'', ''learn''), an occurrence (''happen'', ''become''), or a state of being (''be'', ''exist'', ''stand''). In the usual descrip ...

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. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all languages. The word is deri ...

(both full and bare) or

gerund In linguistics, a gerund ( abbreviated ) is any of various nonfinite verb forms in various languages; most often, but not exclusively, one that functions as a noun. In English, it has the properties of both verb and noun, such as being modifiab ...

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. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all languages. The word is deri ...

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.

References

* Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. ''A Student's Introduction to English Grammar'', Cambridge University Press, 2005 {{lexical categories, state=collapsed Verb types

Form of the verb following the catenative verb

See also

References