morphological? - KOPS - Universität Konstanz

For the sake of simplicity, I start by distinguishing three constructions.
(3) a. DET VInfinitive de DP construction 1
b. DET VInfinitive DPObj construction 2
c. DET VInfinitive DPSubj (DPObj) construction 3
Later, I will try to show that there is no need to consider (3) b. and c. as separate constructions.
2.1 Nominal infinitive has no subject or object, but rather a
prepositional complement headed by de 'of' [=construction 1]
The infinitive
• is preceded by a determiner
• does not govern a subject and object, but an oblique complement introduced by the
preposition de 'of'.
(4) Se escucha [ el abrir de una cerradura ].
'One hears the opening of a lock.'
[cf. Demonte & Varela (1997, 1998)]
Comparable to English nominal gerund (possessive and PPof)
(5) Everyone was impressed by [ Pat's artful folding of the napkins ]. (Malouf 2000:134)
Determiners
• definite article
(6) Se escucha [ el abrir de una cerradura ].
'One hears the opening of a lock.'
• indefinite article
(7) Se oyó [ un crujir de ramas ]. [CdE]
'One heard a rustling of branches.'
• possessives
(8) Oigo [ su jadear de bestia ]. [CdE]
'I hear his moaning like a beast.'
• demonstratives
(9) Oía [ ese abrir de cerraduras ]. [CdE]
'He heard this opening of locks.'
Adverbs/adjectives
• The infinitive can be modified by adjectives
(10) se oyó [ el lento chirriar de una puerta pesada ]. [CdE]
'One heard the slow creaking of a heavy door.'
(11) oía ... [ el chocar incesante de las bolas ] [CdE]
'He heard the incessant colliding of the balls.'
At first sight
• the infinitive is the head of an NP; it has no verbal properties.
(12) [ [el]Det [ [chocar]N [de las bolas]PP ]NP ]DP
'the colliding of the balls.'
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