Verb – Complementizers & verbal constructions

ObjectivesLearning objectives

• The syntax of complementizers and verbal constructions

VocabularyVocabulary

SyntaxSyntax: Verb – Complementizers & verbal constructions

Verbal constructions refer to two verbs that describe a single eventuality where one of the verbs contributes information about the eventuality that the other verb does not, i.e. each verb refers to different aspects of that eventuality. For verbs of movement, we might combine a verb that gives the idea of change of location with another verb that gives the manner of motion (see Syntax B for further discussion): We can see this in an example like

The verb ἦλθεν gives the result interpretation of Jesus changing location and περιπατῶν gives the manner or the way in which Jesus came. What is significant about this in Greek is that you will not find περιπατῶ combining directly with movement towards a location. Whereas in English we could say Jesus walked to them on the sea, there are no such examples of ‘walk to’ or περιπατῶ πρός/εἰς in Greek. Many languages are like this in not allowing this kind of construction (e.g. Romance languages); instead, Greek uses two verbs, one that introduces the result of movement and one that introduces the manner of movement.

This same pattern is found in other verb classes as well, such as verbs of speaking. With these verbs, the result verb takes the place of a complementizer in that it introduces content in a similar way:

The participle λέγων is introducing the result of speaking, i.e. the content that is produced, just like a complementizer would. The verb ἐδίδασκεν, on the other hand, is giving the manner of speaking, or the way in which the speaking is done. In Greek, you will often see λέγει or εἶπεν introducing direct speech for this very reason. These verbs specify that a speaking event has resulted in content of some kind, so they can introduce the content in place of ὅτι or ἵνα and are essentially acting as complementizers.