Universal 1557: verb-initial ⇒ Main verb-Subordinate
Original
In verb-initial languages, verbal forms subordinate to the to the “main” verb (e.g. complements of verbs like ‘want’, ‘try’, etc.) always follow the main verb, and are commonly finite.
Standardized
IF word order is verb-initial, THEN verbal forms subordinate to the to the “main” verb always follow the main verb, and are commonly finite.
Keywords
order, verb-initial, main verb, subordinate verb, finiteness
Domain
inflection, syntax
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
unknown
Source
unpublished statements of Keenan’s, reproduced in D. Payne 1990: 15
Cf. Greenberg’s statement for OV languages (#500): If the nominal object always precedes the verb, then verb forms subordinate to the main verb also precede it.
Cf. Greenberg’s statement for OV languages (#500): If the nominal object always precedes the verb, then verb forms subordinate to the main verb also precede it.