Topics in the Syntax and Semantics of Infinitives and Gerunds

Topics in the Syntax and Semantics of Infinitives and Gerunds presents a formal linguistic analysis of non-finite verbal constructions in English. The work examines the structural and interpretational properties of infinitives and gerunds through the lens of transformational grammar and model-theoretic semantics. Chierchia develops a theoretical framework for analyzing control structures and proposes a unified treatment of PRO and other empty categories. The analysis extends to the semantics of nominalization and addresses long-standing questions about the relationship between verbal and nominal projections. The book draws on data from English and Italian to test and refine its theoretical proposals. Cross-linguistic comparisons help establish the generality of the mechanisms proposed for handling control and nominalization. This work represents a synthesis of formal semantic and syntactic approaches to non-finite complementation, contributing to our understanding of the syntax-semantics interface in natural language. The theoretical machinery developed has implications for broader questions about the nature of reference, predication, and grammatical categories.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Gennaro Chierchia's overall work: Readers note that Chierchia's academic works are technically complex but offer clear explanations of linguistic concepts. His textbook "Logic in Grammar" receives praise from linguistics students for breaking down formal semantics into digestible components. Liked: - Clear presentation of difficult theoretical material - Comprehensive coverage of formal semantics topics - Integration of cross-linguistic data and examples Disliked: - Dense mathematical notation that can be challenging for beginners - Some readers find certain chapters too abstract - Limited practice exercises in textbooks Ratings are limited since most works are academic texts: Goodreads: "Logic in Grammar" - 4.1/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: "Dynamics of Meaning" - 4.0/5 (6 reviews) One graduate student reviewer noted: "Chierchia manages to present complex semantic theory in a way that builds systematically from basic concepts." A linguistics professor commented that the "mathematical formalism, while necessary, may overwhelm some readers."

The Syntax of Verbs by Hubert Haider This monograph examines verb placement, complementation patterns, and the structural properties of infinitival constructions across Germanic languages.

Control in Grammar and Pragmatics by Rudolf Ruzicka The text provides a comprehensive analysis of control phenomena in infinitival clauses through both syntactic and pragmatic perspectives.

Gerunds and Gerundives by Robert Fiengo This work presents a detailed investigation of gerundive constructions and their distribution across different syntactic environments.

The Syntax of Nonfinite Complementation by Zeljko Boskovic The book explores the structural relationships between infinitival clauses and their matrix predicates in multiple languages.

Nominalization and Infinitival Complements by Catherine Léger This study examines the relationship between nominalized forms and infinitival complements through cross-linguistic comparison.

🔹 Gennaro Chierchia's work on infinitives and gerunds has influenced decades of linguistic research, particularly his analysis of how these verbal forms behave like both verbs and nouns simultaneously. 🔹 The book explores the complex relationship between control theory and the PRO-drop phenomenon, which helps explain why we can say "want to leave" but not "want Mary to leave" in certain contexts. 🔹 Published in 1984 from Chierchia's doctoral dissertation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, this text became a foundational work in modern syntactic theory. 🔹 The analysis presented in the book bridges formal semantics with syntactic theory, demonstrating how meaning and structure are intrinsically linked in verbal nominalization patterns. 🔹 Chierchia went on to develop the Nominal Mapping Parameter theory, which explains why languages differ in how they can use bare nouns - a concept that grew from his early work on nominalization in this book.