• Dutch1
  • Frisian
  • Saterfrisian
  • Afrikaans
Show all
Semantic classification of the missing verb following modals
quickinfo

Various types of light verb need not be used in the presence of modal verbs. This process only affects the infinitive or the to-infinitive of light verbs. So, complements to modals may lack an infinitival verb, as in the following example:

1
a. Tryntsje wol net alle dagen spul mei de buorlju
Tryntsje wants not all days fight with the neighbours
Tryntsje does not want to have a fight with the neighbours every day
b. Tryntsje wol net alle dagen spul mei de buorlju hawwe
Tryntsje wants not all days fight with the neighbours have
Tryntsje does not want to have a fight with the neighbours every day

The missing verb must be a light verb, such as gean go, hawwe have, wêze be or another light verb. Phrases accompanying the missing verb and discourse context are discussed in phrases accompanying the missing verb and discourse context.

See also complementive, intransitive complementive predication and transitive complementive predication.

References
    printreport errorcite