University of Tuzla

English Language and Literature

Complementation of Verb and Adjectives

Seminar paper on

Monotransitive Complementation by wh-Clause

(Finite and to-infinitive)

Student: Ajla Husić

Tuzla, april 2020.

Monotransitive complementation
Verbs used in monotransitive function require a direct object, which may be a noun phrase, a
finite clause, or a nonfinite clause. In addition to these categories the verb may be a Type 1
prepositional verb or phrasal prepositional verb.
There are all different kinds of monotransitive complementation, but this paper will solely be
dealing with monotransitive complementation by wh-clause (finite and to-infinitive).

Wh-clause as object
Many verbs can take a wh interrogative clause.
I asked her to confirm whether the flight had been booked.
Can you confirm which flight we are taking?
They haven't yet confirmed how much the flight costs.
Notice that in all three illustrative sentences above, confirm occurs in what may be described
as a nonassertive context. The use of the wh interrogative clause (which generally implies
lack of knowledge on the part of the speaker) is particularly common where the superordinate
clause is interrogative or negative. On the other hand, there are some verbs which themselves
express uncertainty, such as ask and wonder: these occur with the wh-clause without this
nonassertive constraint. Examples of verbs taking the wh-interrogative clause are:
Anticipate [NA] Doubt Note [NA]3
Argue [NA]2 Enquire2,3 Notice [NA]3
Arrange [NA]3 Establish3 Observe [NA]3
Ascertain Explain3 Perceive [NA]3
Ask2 Express Point out [NA]
Beware2 Fathom [NA] Ponder3
Calculate [NA]3 Find out2,3 Predict [NA]
Care [NA]1,2 Forget3 Prove
Check2,3 Guess Realize [NA]
Choose3 Hear [NA]2 Record [NA]
Confirm [NA] Imagine [NA]3 Reflect2
Consider [NA]3 Indicate [NA]3 Remember [NA]3
Decide2,3 Inquire2,3 Say [NA]3
Demonstrate3 Judge3 See [NA]3
Depend2 Know [NA]3 Show3
Disclose Learn [NA]3 Tell [NA]2,3
Discover3 Make out [NA] Think [NA]3
Discuss3 Mind [NA]3 Wonder3
The symbol [NA] 'after a verb indicates that this complementation is particularly likely to
occur in a nonassertive context. The superscripts 1-3 are interpreted as follows:
1. This verb is part of a negative or predominantly negative construction when combined
with the wh-interrogative clause: not care; not mind; can't fathom; can't tell.
2. The verb is basically a prepositional verb, and has a preposition which may be
optionally added
3. The verb can also occur with a following wh-infinitive clause; eg: I didn't know what
to say.
The preposition of a prepositional verb is optionally omitted before a whclause, and hence it
is convenient to include in the above list verbs for which the wh-clause is basically a
prepositional object. For example:
I inquired (about) whether the tickets were ready.
They haven't yet decided (on) which flight they will take.
For the corresponding passive, again, the preposition is optional, whether or not the nominal
clause is in extraposition:
Which flight they will take has not yet been decided (on).
It has not yet been decided (on) which flight they will take.
Sometimes there is a slight difference of meaning if the preposition is included; contrast:
She asked what he wanted.
≠ She asked about what he wanted...

Whereas ask introduces the question which the speaker actually asked and for which she
requires an answer, ask about does not indicate what the question might have been. Other
prepositional verbs in this class are: argue (about); beware (of); not care (about); check (on);
depend (on); hear (about); reject (on). There is also the phrasal-prepositional verb find out
(about).
The word order n wh-component clauses:
This complementation pattern is particularly likely to occur in non-assertive contexts (i.e.
when embedded under verbs in the interrogative, in the negative, in the negative, or under
verbs that are themselves embedded under verbs that express uncertainty or lack of
knowledge such as ask). Verbs that express uncertainty or lack of knowledge (like ask or
wonder) occur with this pattern without this non-assertive constraint.

Wh-infinitive clause as object

It is as well to begin the survey of nonfinite c1auses as objects with c1auses.These are wh-
infinitive c1auses:
He learned how to sail a boat as a small boy.
You must not forget when to keep your mouth shut.
1couldn't decide (on) which bicycle to buy.
The last example illustrates the occurrence of the optional preposition with prepositional
verbs, as already observed with finite c1auses of the same type. The corresponding passive
pattern also occurs:
The Curies discovered how to isolate radioactive elements.
~How to isolate radíoactive elements was discovered by the Curies.
The passive with extraposition is also sometimes possible:
Early in the present century, it was discovered how to iso/ate radioactive elements.

Examples in the corpus (source: BBC)

Disclaimer: Most examples are finite, while those that are not are marked as to-infinitive in the brackets after the
example.

1. The family must decide which of them is going to the funeral.

2. His aides doubt about whether Mr Trump will win crucial battlegrounds such as
Florida.
3. Some councilors doubted whether the development was appropriate.
4. Madge and Mavis discuss whether to invite Gastric for Christmas dinner. (to-
infinitive)
5. NHS England was considering how to formally commemorate all those who had died
while working to care for others. (to-infinitive)
6. I've often wondered who the kid was and what he is doing now.
7. Many are wondering who will be next.
8. We anticipate more cases will be reported.
9. DCMS has yet to confirm which tech companies are being summoned.
10. Do Russians care what president does next?
11. I care too much what people think of me.
12. I don't care what you do.
13. Can you confirm which director general you are talking about?
14. The BBC and ITV can confirm which broadcaster will show their chosen fixtures from
next summer’s tournament.
15. The BBC spokeswoman would not confirm which real “characters” were paid.
16. Do your colleagues know how much you earn?
17. These guys know how to party!
18. I know how to keep a secret.
19. We quickly realized why nobody had ever seen them.
20. Search Results
21. Web results
22. People over-remember what they try to forget.
23. He could not remember what he had done with her.
 24. We'll remember what you've looked at so you can jump back in.
25. Can you remember what each of the letters stand for?
26. David Bowie, speaking in a BBC documentary, explained how he came up with his
songs.
27. Radio 4's Money Box presenter, Paul Lewis, explained where customers stand if they
do not follow the terms.
28. BBC's Laura Kuenssberg brilliantly explained where the UK is with Brexit on the
Brexitcast.
29. Thousands explained why they left Islam online.
30. Conservative Philip Davies has explained why he spoke for 90 minutes.
31. In a brief they explained why the time was right to change.
32. Home Secretary Theresa May explained whether the threat of a referendum in 2018
would create uncertainty for business looking to invest in the UK.
33. A third car was pointed out, which was said to contain people involved in the incident.
34. I point out where I want to be dropped off.
35. Its backers enthusiastically point out where a grand staircase and hand-carved statues
will go.
36. I can't remember where I've put the spare set of car keys.
37. I can't remember where we went to.
38. Ines Higgins is registered blind and has learned how to do her own make-up. (to-
infinitive)
39. Who decides what can be an emoji?
40. How do you decide on which interactive features you will implement? (to-infinitive)
41. How do you decide on who to invite on the programme? (to-infinitive)
42. Students should then decide on who has had the greatest impact on our world. (to-
infinitive)
43. In 1796, Edward Jenner discovered how vaccination could prevent disease.
44. Scientists in Italy have discovered how our brains can be tricked into feeling
disembodied from our own limbs.
45. I never discovered whether the threat was real.
46. We forgot whether there was an alert on or not.
47. Paul Flynn MP is asked why should politicians rebel?
48. Can you guess which 'luxury' items we pay VAT on?
49. Test could predict which mothers will need Caesareans.
50. DNA testing can predict which men face the highest risk of deadly prostate cancer.
51. Film critics and film journalists predict who will be the winners in the 2021 Academy
Awards.
52. None of us can predict whether the campuses will be fully open.

Trends in journalism
Monotransitive examples are generally difficult to find in the texts that are available online.
The texts found on BBC are usually composed of longer sentences which only include
monotransitive complementation if they are broken up into parts. Having said this, journalists
often break grammar rules in order to make their texts sound better or make them easier to
read. There is a strict pattern of which words are used most frequently and those are: explain,
discover, predict and decide. A verb that expresses uncertainty, such as wonder is used very
often as well. Verbs that are shorter usually do not take the main position in a sentence and
very often end up being replaced for versions that sound more professional. The to-infinitive
clauses are rarely used in these texts and this is most probably due to the flow of the texts
which disables such forms from finding their way in. Another trend that I noticed which is
very common is the use of the passive form. n retelling a story, journalist tend to go for the
passive form since it really is the most accurate way to retell a story. All in all, wh-clause is
commonly used but it is rarely found paired with monotransitive complementation.