Variation in Non-finite Constructions in English: Trends Affecting Infinitives and Gerunds [Hardcover]

This book sheds new light on the nature of gerunds in English, utilizing data from very large electronic corpora in order to compare pairs of patterns viewed as constructions. It serves as a contribution to the study of complementation, an under-researched area of investigation which bridges observations at the intersection of lexico-grammar, syntax and semantics. As a result, the reader develops their understanding of the meaning and use of each pattern within the system of English predicate complementation as it has evolved in recent times. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of English linguistics, especially English grammar. Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Variation between Sentential Complements: the Case of Work at -ing and Work on -ing.- Chapter 3: Semantic Roles and Complement Selection: a Case Study on the Matrix Adjective Frightened.- Chapter 4: Emergence of Covert Noun Phrase Objects: the Case of Advise against -ing.- Chapter 5: Exceptions to Bachs Generalization in Inner and Outer Core Varieties of English: the Case of Warn against -ing.- Chapter 6: New Light on -Ing Complements of Prevent, with Recent Data from Large Corpora.- Chapter 7: Conclusion.