A clause might contain a sequence of verbs. This chapter is concerned with verbs of a verb sequence that are prior to the last verb. These prior verbs are called catenative verbs. The last verb of a verb sequence, called the main verb, is the focus of chapter 7.
With annotation, a catenative verb occurs at a level of clause structure alongside a clause layer with the -CAT extension that essentially acts as a clasue internal layer. This clause internal layer is the selected complement of the catenative verb.
Full tags for -CAT layers are listed in Table 6.1. The full tag for a -CAT layer is determined by the form of the directly contained verb.
| IP-INF-CAT | layer with infinitive verb introduced by a catenative verb |
| IP-PPL-CAT | layer with participle verb introduced by a catenative verb |
The annotation marks each catenative verb with a catenative verb code, and sections 6.2 to 6.8 will provide examples to illustrate all of the possible codes. Codes differ because they indicate the form of the -CAT marked complement following Table 6.2.
| t | non-finite clause (to-infinitive) (IP-INF-CAT with to tagged TO and verb tagged VB) |
| i | non-finite clause (bare infinitive) (IP-INF-CAT with verb tagged VB but no TO tagged word) |
| e | participial clause ({ed}/{en} form) (IP-PPL-CAT with verb tagged VVN) |
| g | participial clause ({ing} form) (IP-PPL-CAT with verb tagged VAG) |
A complete verb code is reached when cat_V is followed by a lower case letter from Table 6.2. There are also codes with an added lowercase ‘p’ to indicate the presence of an adverbial particle selected by the verb in addition to the -CAT marked complement. The list of catenative codes is as follows:
Coordination with the complements of catenative verbs is discussed in section 6.9.
Passive voice is discussed in section 6.10. Passive voice is most easily recognised when arising with an instance of BE that is a catenative [cat_Ve] verb, or some other catenative [cat_Ve] verb that is not HAVE, such as GET.
Finally, section 6.11 introduces some specialised verb codes from Hornby (1975) that select passive complements.
[cat_Vt] is the code to mark a catenative verb with an IP-INF-CAT complement that directly contains an infinitive verb with to.
[cat_Vp.t] is the code to mark a catenative phrasal verb with particle and an IP-INF-CAT complement that directly contains an infinitive verb with to. In (6.5), turned has out as its required particle to form a phrasal verb with to be excellent as the IP-INF-CAT complement.
[cat_Vi] is the code to mark a catenative verb with an IP-INF-CAT complement that directly contains a bare infinitive verb.
[cat_VePASS] is the code to mark a catenative verb with an IP-PPL-CAT complement that directly contains a passive past participle ({ed}/{en}) verb form. Example (6.7) illustrates the [cat_VePASS] verb appeared with selection of an IP-PPL-CAT complement with past participle struck as a passive verb.
Example (6.8) illustrates the [cat_VePASS] verb grown with selection of an IP-PPL-CAT complement with past participle accustomed as a passive verb.
The [cat_VePASS] verbs appeared of (6.7) and grown of (6.8) bring about a passive interpretation for the past participle ({ed}/{en}) verb of their -CAT complement. Most typically, it is [cat_VePASS] BE that is used to create the environment for a passive -CAT complement to occur, discussed in section 6.10 below. Also, [cat_VePASS] GET is another notable trigger for a passive.
Catenative [cat_Ve] HAVE is used to form the perfect construction. The perfect tense is formed by:
This places multiple verbs in sequence, giving an IP-PPL-CAT layer in the annotation, as seen in (6.9).
The perfect form of a verb generally calls attention to the consequences of a prior event; for example, (6.9) implies that Mr. Yamada is still away, in contrast with (6.10).
[cat_Vg] is the code to mark a catenative verb with an IP-PPL-CAT complement that directly contains a present participial ({ing}) verb form.
The progressive (also known as the ‘continuous’) form of a verb generally describes events in progress. It is formed by combining a verb's present participle ({ing}) verb form (e.g., watching) with an instance of BE that is a catenative [cat_Vg] verb, e.g., was watching in (6.12).
The progressive construction can be introduced by the perfect construction (see section 6.6), as with been watching in (6.13).
The progressive construction can be used to introduce the passive construction (see section 6.10), as with is getting in (6.14).
The progressive construction can be introduced by the perfect construction and introduce the passive construction, as with been being in (6.15).
[cat_Vp.g] is the code to mark a catenative phrasal verb with required particle and an IP-PPL-CAT complement that directly contains a present participial ({ing}) verb form. In (6.16), keep has on as its required particle to form a phrasal verb with drinking as the IP-PPL-CAT complement.
In addition to matching catenative verb code commitments, having -CAT layers provides the structural isolation needed for coordination, which is possible when there are clause internal layers. For example, there are multiple -CAT layers in (6.17), with coordination occurring with the higher layer.
| NP-LGS | logical subject noun phrase |
| PP-LGS | logical subject preposition phrase |
The active voice is the basic, unmarked form of the clause.
The passive voice is the more marked form of the clause in which the -SBJ corresponds in meaning to an -OB1 or -OB2 (or very occasionally a -PRD) of a corresponding active clause.
Sentence (6.18) is the passive of Her boyfriend gave her a new outfit. A passive is recognisable from:
GET can be used in place of BE as a [cat_Ve] verb to form passives.
After NEED and WANT with [cat_VgPASS] code the IP-PPL-CAT complement with {ing} participle has a passive meaning.
In (6.25) -NSBJ occurs in a clause together with a derived subject, marked -SBJ and so not distinguished independently of the construction, in a construction that is also mentioned in section 10.9.
VP24 codes from Hornby (1975) mark main verbs that are followed by a noun phrase + an IP-PPL-PRD that directly contains a past participle ({ed}/{en}) verb form. VP24 codes are subdivided, as a specific use of GET and all instances of HAVE need separate treatment.
[VP24A] is the code when the verb is not GET with the [VP24C] meaning or HAVE.
[VP24B] is the code when the main verb is HAVE used to indicate what the subject of the sentence experiences, undergoes, or suffers, as in (6.31). [VP24B] also marks HAVE used to indicate what is held or possessed, as in (6.32).
[VP24C] is the code when the main verb is HAVE or GET meaning ‘cause to be’.
