Catenative verbs – appear to, happen to, seem to, tend to
We considered verbs which can set up a chain of non-finite complements as catenatives, and the non-finite clauses themselves as catenative complements. Here we look at a largely different set of verbal groups which include the following: appear to, come to, fail to, get to, happen to, manage to, seem to and tend to.
There are certain features which together distinguish them from other verbs:
1 Similarity to modals: These verbs express meanings that are similar to certain modal or aspectual meanings of chance and usuality, achievement or completion. They have in common with the lexical auxiliaries the ability to form chained sequences of non-finites as in Those pears don’t seem to be getting eaten.
2 Operators do and have: Syntactically, however, they behave like lexical verbs in that they use forms of do and have as operators (Did he come to realize the problems he would have to face? Have you ever happened to see a volcano in eruption?)
3 A feature of these verbs is that they can be ‘dispensed with’ or removed without substantially affecting the meaning:
The other day, I happened to come across some old photos (or: I came across some old photos.)
Children tend to dress and talk like TV characters they admire. (B. Bettelheim cited in the OED.) (or: Children dress and talk like TV characters they admire.)
The sky seemed to be getting darker. (or: The sky was getting darker.)
With those verbs that imply not fulfilling something that is usually or previously done, such as fail to, decline to, neglect to, cease to, the catenative can be replaced by a negative word or phrase; sometimes by a lexical item:
The alarm failed to go off. (The alarm didn’t go off.)
We neglected to lock up the house last night. (We didn’t lock up / We forgot to lock up . . . )
The Prime Minister declined to give an explanation. (didn’t give / refused to give . . . )
I have ceased to mind the harsh climate. (I no longer mind the harsh climate.)
Non-catenatives cannot be dispensed with in this way without changing the meaning. For instance, wish to in they wished to make lots of money is not equivalent to they made lots of money.
4 Catenative verbs are not related to transitive structures even when there exists a corresponding transitive use, as is the case with neglect (the garden has been neglected) and decline (her invitation was politely declined). Consequently, catenative verbs are not used with the passive. Passive voice can occur with the verb following the catenative, as in:
No-one appeared to realize the implications of the decision (active).
The implications of the decision appeared to be realized by no-one (passive).
