Catenative

Question

Why does the "He stopped smoking" have a catenative verb whereas the "He stopped to smoke" not?Thank you.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

In the sentence: "He stopped smoking." - the catenative verb is "stop" and the direct object to which the catenative verb refers is the gerund "smoking".

The non-finite ("smoking") performs the function of a direct object, that is why the verb "stop" is a catenative verb.

(You ask yourself: He stopped what? and the answer is: smoking.)

In the sentence: "He stopped to smoke." - you do not have a catenative verb because you also do not have a direct object to which it could refer to. You have the to-infinitive "to smoke", which functions as an adjunct of reason/purpose, that is why "stop" in this case cannot be a catenative verb.

(You ask yourself: why did he stop/with what purpose did he stop? and the answer is: to smoke)

BillJ · Answer

AnonymousWhy does the "He stopped smoking" have a catenative verb whereas the "He stopped to smoke" not?Thank you.

They are both catenative constructions. "He stopped smoking" has a gerund-participle clause as catenative complement; "he stopped to smoke has an infinitival clause as catenative complement.

BillJ

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhy does the "He stopped smoking" have a catenative verb whereas the "He stopped to smoke" not?

In "He stopped to smoke", "to smoke" is an infinitive of purpose, and if we call stopcatenative in that construction, then we'll have to call almost every verb catenative in the same construction, which we don't do.

He stood to greet her. stand is catenative?

He paused to look at his notes. pause is catenative?

He came to collect the payment. come is catenative?

It seems to me that grammarians don't call any of those examples above "catenative".

Nevertheless, because there is a contrast of meaning between stop to and stop -ing, "catenative" is often used to describe both constructions.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousIn the sentence: "He stopped smoking." - the catenative verb is "stop" and the direct object to which the catenative verb refers is the gerund "smoking".
The non-finite ("smoking") performs the function of a direct object, that is why the verb "stop" is a catenative verb.
(You ask yourself: He stopped what? and the answer is: smoking.)

In the sentence: "He stopped to smoke." - you do not have a catenative verb because you also do not have a direct object to which it could refer to. You have the to-infinitive "to smoke", which functions as an adjunct of reason/purpose, that is why "stop" in this case cannot be a catenative verb.
(You ask yourself: why did he stop/with what purpose did he stop? and the answer is: to smoke)

Thank you for your useful answer. I agree that the purpose/reason determines that the "He stopped to smoke" is not catenative; indeed, if you put the prepositional phrase 'in order' into the sentence then the 'uncatenativeness' of the "He stopped to smoke" seems to be more obvious.

BillJ · Answer

CalifJim
AnonymousWhy does the "He stopped smoking" have a catenative verb whereas the "He stopped to smoke" not?
In "He stopped to smoke", "to smoke" is an infinitive of purpose, and if we call stop catenative in that construction, then we'll have to call almost every verb catenative in the same construction, which we don't do. He stood to greet her. stand is catenative?He paused to look at his notes. pause is catenative?He came to collect the payment. come is catenative? It seems to me that grammarians don't call any of those examples above "catenative". Nevertheless, because there is a contrast of meaning between stop to and stop -ing, "catenative" is often used to describe both constructions. CJ

Of course we do. You're missing the vital point about catenatives which is that amost all non-finite clauses are catenatives complements. Clearly that means there's a large range of catenative verbs. The examples (in bold) that you give are all genuine catenatives.

BillJ

CalifJim · Answer

BillJThe examples (in bold) that you give are all genuine catenatives.

Interesting.

In that case, the difference between 'complement' and 'adjunct' escapes me. For example, I can see how come is catenative in

He soon came to realize that he had discovered something important.

But not in

He came to collect the rent.

_____________

How about this one? Catenative? Or must the infinitive occur directly after the first verb?

We put all the plates and silverware on the table well in advance to avoid a disorganized rush later.

CJ

BillJ · Answer

AnonymousIn the sentence: "He stopped smoking." - the catenative verb is "stop" and the direct object to which the catenative verb refers is the gerund "smoking".
The non-finite ("smoking") performs the function of a direct object, that is why the verb "stop" is a catenative verb.
(You ask yourself: He stopped what? and the answer is: smoking.)

If "smoking" was a direct object, the verb wouldn't be catenative, would it? Catenative complements are non-finite clauses, not direct objects (which are usually noun phrases). Simple catenative constructions have just a non-finite clause as complement. The issue of whether forms ending in -ing (like "smoking") are verbs or nouns is a bit tricky. He stopped smoking" is strictly speaking ambiguous, but the verb is the more salient interpretation ("He stopped smoking cigarettes). Noun interpretation can be forced by adjectival premodification, as in "He stopped occasional smoking". So in "He stopped smoking", "smoking" is a non-finite clause functioning as catenative complement.

BillJ

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