@cite{wurmbrand-2014}: Tense and Aspect in English Infinitives #

@cite{wurmbrand-2014}

Wurmbrand's three-way classification of infinitival complements by tense properties. The key insight: infinitival complements are not uniformly "tenseless" — they fall into three classes with distinct temporal behavior.

Core Mechanisms #

Three-way classification: future irrealis, propositional, tenseless simultaneous
Woll decomposition: will = PRES + woll; would = PAST + woll
Temporal orientation is determined by complement class, not tense morphology
Dependent vs independent tense: restructuring complements share the matrix temporal domain; propositional complements have NOW-anchoring
Episodic interpretation diagnostics: the three classes make distinct predictions about whether bare (nonprogressive) episodic VPs are possible
Complement size: infinitival tense class correlates with complement size (wollP, TP, or vP/AspP)

Classification (Table 4) #

Class	Example verbs	Temporal composition	Complement size
Irrealis future	decide, expect	woll (future modal)	wollP
Propositional	believe, claim	Ref time = att. holder NOW	TP
Nonpropositional (no att.)	try, begin, seem	Ref time = matrix ref time	vP/AspP

Episodic Interpretations (Table 3) #

Class	Episodic interp.	Reason
Future	possible	woll gives unrestricted ref time
Propositional attitude	impossible	NOW = short interval, perf fails
Tenseless simultaneous	matrix-dependent	ref time = matrix ref time

Limitations #

Focuses on English infinitives; cross-linguistic extension is programmatic
Temporal de re: not directly addressed
ULC: not directly addressed

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inductive Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass :

Type

@cite{wurmbrand-2014}'s three-way classification of infinitival tense.

The paper's final characterization (Table 4):

Irrealis future: tenseless + woll → future-oriented
Propositional: reference time = attitude holder's NOW → simultaneous
Tenseless simultaneous: no attitude holder, reference time = matrix reference time → dependent on matrix

The third class is labeled "Nonpropositional; no attitude holder" in Table 4 and subsumes both restructuring verbs (try, manage) and raising verbs (begin, seem).

futureIrrealis : InfinitivalTenseClass
decide, want, expect: tenseless + woll → future-oriented
propositional : InfinitivalTenseClass
believe, claim, expect: NOW-anchored → simultaneous with attitude time
restructuring : InfinitivalTenseClass
try, begin, manage, seem: no attitude holder, reference time = matrix reference time → dependent on matrix. Labeled "Nonpropositional; no attitude holder" in Table 4. Subsumes both restructuring and raising infinitives.

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqInfinitivalTenseClass :

DecidableEq InfinitivalTenseClass

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqInfinitivalTenseClass x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalTenseClass.repr :

InfinitivalTenseClass → ℕ → Std.Format

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalTenseClass :

Repr InfinitivalTenseClass

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalTenseClass = { reprPrec := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalTenseClass.repr }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqInfinitivalTenseClass.beq :

InfinitivalTenseClass → InfinitivalTenseClass → Bool

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqInfinitivalTenseClass.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqInfinitivalTenseClass :

BEq InfinitivalTenseClass

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqInfinitivalTenseClass = { beq := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqInfinitivalTenseClass.beq }

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instInhabitedInfinitivalTenseClass :

Inhabited InfinitivalTenseClass

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instInhabitedInfinitivalTenseClass = { default := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instInhabitedInfinitivalTenseClass.default }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instInhabitedInfinitivalTenseClass.default :

InfinitivalTenseClass

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instInhabitedInfinitivalTenseClass.default = Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis

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inductive Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.ComplementSize :

Type

Complement size hierarchy (@cite{wurmbrand-2014} §5; @cite{wurmbrand-2001}).

The three infinitival classes correspond to different complement sizes in the clausal spine. The functional domain is built uniformly from the bottom up; restructuring is special only in that the functional domain is not built up to the top. Higher projections entail lower ones — a wollP cannot exist without a vP below it.

wollP : ComplementSize
wollP: contains the future modal woll. Entails vP below. Selected by future-irrealis verbs (decide, plan, promise).
tP : ComplementSize
TP: contains a tense head anchored to attitude holder's NOW. Selected by propositional attitude verbs (believe, claim).
vP_AspP : ComplementSize
vP/AspP: bare aspectual projection, no independent tense or modal. Selected by restructuring/raising verbs (try, begin, seem).

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqComplementSize :

DecidableEq ComplementSize

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqComplementSize x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprComplementSize :

Repr ComplementSize

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprComplementSize = { reprPrec := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprComplementSize.repr }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprComplementSize.repr :

ComplementSize → ℕ → Std.Format

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqComplementSize :

BEq ComplementSize

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqComplementSize = { beq := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqComplementSize.beq }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqComplementSize.beq :

ComplementSize → ComplementSize → Bool

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqComplementSize.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.classToSize :

InfinitivalTenseClass → ComplementSize

Map each infinitival tense class to its predicted complement size.

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.ComplementSize.isLargerThan :

ComplementSize → ComplementSize → Bool

Complement size ordering: larger complements properly contain smaller ones. wollP > TP > vP/AspP.

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structure Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.WollDecomposition :

Type

Woll: abstract future modal (@cite{wurmbrand-2014} §2). will = PRES + woll; would = PAST + woll.

This decomposes English future auxiliaries into a tense component and a modal component (woll). The tense component is what undergoes SOT; woll provides the future orientation.

tense : Core.Tense.GramTense
The tense component
hasWoll : Bool
Whether woll is present (provides future orientation)

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqWollDecomposition :

DecidableEq WollDecomposition

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqWollDecomposition = Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqWollDecomposition.decEq

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqWollDecomposition.decEq (x✝ x✝¹ : WollDecomposition) :

Decidable (x✝ = x✝¹)

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprWollDecomposition.repr :

WollDecomposition → ℕ → Std.Format

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprWollDecomposition :

Repr WollDecomposition

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprWollDecomposition = { reprPrec := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprWollDecomposition.repr }

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqWollDecomposition :

BEq WollDecomposition

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqWollDecomposition = { beq := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqWollDecomposition.beq }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqWollDecomposition.beq :

WollDecomposition → WollDecomposition → Bool

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqWollDecomposition.beq { tense := a, hasWoll := a_1 } { tense := b, hasWoll := b_1 } = (a == b && a_1 == b_1)
Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqWollDecomposition.beq x✝¹ x✝ = false

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.will_ :

WollDecomposition

will = present tense + woll.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.will_ = { tense := Core.Tense.GramTense.present, hasWoll := true }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.would_ :

WollDecomposition

would = past tense + woll.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.would_ = { tense := Core.Tense.GramTense.past, hasWoll := true }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.plainPresent :

WollDecomposition

Plain present (no woll).

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.plainPresent = { tense := Core.Tense.GramTense.present, hasWoll := false }

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.will_would_share_woll :

will_.hasWoll = would_.hasWoll

will and would share the woll component.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.will_would_tense_differs :

will_.tense ≠ would_.tense

will and would differ only in tense.

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.classHasWoll :

InfinitivalTenseClass → Bool

Whether a class's complement contains woll. Only future irrealis infinitives contain the future modal woll; the other two classes lack it.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.futureIrrealis_has_woll :

classHasWoll InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis = true

Future irrealis infinitives contain woll.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.propositional_no_woll :

classHasWoll InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional = false

Non-future classes lack woll.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.restructuring_no_woll :

classHasWoll InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring = false

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inductive Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.TemporalOrientation :

Type

The temporal orientation of a complement relative to the matrix event. @cite{wurmbrand-2014}'s classification predicts distinct temporal relations for each class.

futureOriented : TemporalOrientation
Complement event is after matrix event
simultaneous : TemporalOrientation
Complement event is simultaneous with matrix event
dependent : TemporalOrientation
Complement event's temporal location depends entirely on matrix

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqTemporalOrientation :

DecidableEq TemporalOrientation

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqTemporalOrientation x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprTemporalOrientation :

Repr TemporalOrientation

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprTemporalOrientation = { reprPrec := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprTemporalOrientation.repr }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprTemporalOrientation.repr :

TemporalOrientation → ℕ → Std.Format

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqTemporalOrientation :

BEq TemporalOrientation

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqTemporalOrientation = { beq := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqTemporalOrientation.beq }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqTemporalOrientation.beq :

TemporalOrientation → TemporalOrientation → Bool

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqTemporalOrientation.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.classOrientation :

InfinitivalTenseClass → TemporalOrientation

Map each infinitival tense class to its predicted temporal orientation.

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inductive Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.EpisodicAvailability :

Type

Availability of bare (nonprogressive) episodic interpretations in infinitival complements (@cite{wurmbrand-2014} §4).

The three infinitival classes make distinct predictions about episodic VPs. Episodic interpretations require perfective aspect, which requires the event time to be included in the reference time interval. The three classes impose different reference time constraints, yielding different episodic patterns.

possible : EpisodicAvailability
Episodic interpretations are possible because woll provides an unrestricted future reference time (large enough for perfective). Example: "John decided to sing in the shower" — episodic OK.
impossible : EpisodicAvailability
Episodic interpretations are impossible because the reference time is the attitude holder's NOW — a near-instantaneous interval too short for perfective aspect to be satisfied. Example: "*Leo believes Julia to sing in the shower right now."
matrixDependent : EpisodicAvailability
Episodic interpretations depend on the matrix tense: possible when the matrix reference time is large enough (past tense), but not when it is restricted to a short interval (present tense). Example: "Leo seemed to sing in the shower yesterday" — OK with past matrix; "*Leo seems to sing in the shower right now" — bad.

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqEpisodicAvailability :

DecidableEq EpisodicAvailability

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instDecidableEqEpisodicAvailability x✝ y✝ = if h : x✝.ctorIdx = y✝.ctorIdx then isTrue ⋯ else isFalse ⋯

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprEpisodicAvailability :

Repr EpisodicAvailability

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprEpisodicAvailability = { reprPrec := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprEpisodicAvailability.repr }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprEpisodicAvailability.repr :

EpisodicAvailability → ℕ → Std.Format

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqEpisodicAvailability :

BEq EpisodicAvailability

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqEpisodicAvailability = { beq := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqEpisodicAvailability.beq }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqEpisodicAvailability.beq :

EpisodicAvailability → EpisodicAvailability → Bool

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instBEqEpisodicAvailability.beq x✝ y✝ = (x✝.ctorIdx == y✝.ctorIdx)

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.classEpisodicPrediction :

InfinitivalTenseClass → EpisodicAvailability

Map each infinitival tense class to its episodic interpretation prediction (Table 3, p.432).

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.propositional_no_episodic :

classEpisodicPrediction InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional = EpisodicAvailability.impossible

Propositional infinitives exclude bare episodic interpretations: the reference time (attitude holder's NOW) is too short for perfective aspect. Only imperfective/progressive is possible.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.restructuring_episodic_matrix_dependent :

classEpisodicPrediction InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring = EpisodicAvailability.matrixDependent

Restructuring infinitives' episodic availability is determined by the matrix tense (their reference time IS the matrix reference time): past matrix → large reference time → perfective OK → episodic OK; present matrix → short reference time → perfective fails → episodic bad.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.futureIrrealis_episodic_possible :

classEpisodicPrediction InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis = EpisodicAvailability.possible

Future infinitives allow episodic interpretations regardless of matrix tense, because woll shifts the reference time to the future (an unrestricted interval).

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structure Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalVerb :

Type

Classification of infinitival complement verbs.

lemma_ : String
The verb lemma
tenseClass : InfinitivalTenseClass
Its tense class

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalVerb :

Repr InfinitivalVerb

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalVerb = { reprPrec := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalVerb.repr }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprInfinitivalVerb.repr :

InfinitivalVerb → ℕ → Std.Format

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.want :

InfinitivalVerb

"want" is future irrealis: "John wanted to leave" → leaving after wanting.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.want = { lemma_ := "want", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.decide :

InfinitivalVerb

"decide" is future irrealis: "John decided to leave" → leaving after deciding.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.decide = { lemma_ := "decide", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.plan :

InfinitivalVerb

"plan" is future irrealis: "John planned to leave" → leaving after planning.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.plan = { lemma_ := "plan", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.promise :

InfinitivalVerb

"promise" is future irrealis: "John promised to leave" → leaving after promising.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.promise = { lemma_ := "promise", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.believe :

InfinitivalVerb

"believe" is propositional: "John believes Mary to be sick" → simultaneous.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.believe = { lemma_ := "believe", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.claim :

InfinitivalVerb

"claim" is propositional: "John claims to be sick" → simultaneous.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.claim = { lemma_ := "claim", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.try_ :

InfinitivalVerb

"try" is tenseless simultaneous (restructuring): "John tried to leave" → same temporal domain.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.try_ = { lemma_ := "try", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.begin_ :

InfinitivalVerb

"begin" is tenseless simultaneous (raising): "John began to sing" → same temporal domain.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.begin_ = { lemma_ := "begin", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.manage :

InfinitivalVerb

"manage" is tenseless simultaneous (restructuring): "John managed to escape" → same temporal domain.

Equations

Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.manage = { lemma_ := "manage", tenseClass := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring }

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structure Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.AmbiguousVerb :

Type

A verb that is ambiguous between two infinitival tense classes. Some verbs allow multiple temporal construals depending on context.

lemma_ : String
readings : List InfinitivalTenseClass

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instance Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprAmbiguousVerb :

Repr AmbiguousVerb

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Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprAmbiguousVerb = { reprPrec := Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprAmbiguousVerb.repr }

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.instReprAmbiguousVerb.repr :

AmbiguousVerb → ℕ → Std.Format

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.expect :

AmbiguousVerb

expect is ambiguous between future irrealis and propositional (@cite{wurmbrand-2014} §3, §4.3).

Future: "The bridge is expected to collapse right now" ≈ scheduled to collapse (near future)
Propositional: "I expected Leo to be sleeping then" ≈ believed Leo was sleeping (simultaneous)

Under the propositional reading, bare episodic interpretations are impossible (only imperfective/progressive is possible), just like believe. Under the future reading, episodic interpretations are possible, just like decide.

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def Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.seem :

AmbiguousVerb

seem is primarily tenseless simultaneous (like try, begin), but can also be construed propositionally when an experiencer is present (@cite{wurmbrand-2014} §4.4).

Without experiencer: "The bridge seemed to tremble" → tenseless, dependent on matrix tense
With experiencer: "John seems to be sleeping" → can use the experiencer's NOW as reference time, patterning with propositional attitude infinitives

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.expect_is_ambiguous :

expect.readings.length > 1

expect admits both future and propositional readings.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.seem_is_ambiguous :

seem.readings.length > 1

seem admits both restructuring and propositional readings.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.futureIrrealis_is_future_oriented :

classOrientation InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis = TemporalOrientation.futureOriented

Future-irrealis infinitives are future-oriented: the future orientation comes from woll, not from tense.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.propositional_now_anchored :

classOrientation InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional = TemporalOrientation.simultaneous

Propositional infinitives impose NOW-anchoring: the complement's reference time is simultaneous with the attitude holder's time.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.restructuring_dependent :

classOrientation InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring = TemporalOrientation.dependent

Restructuring infinitives share the matrix temporal domain: there is no independent temporal reference in the complement.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.wurmbrand_three_classes_distinct :

want.tenseClass ≠ believe.tenseClass ∧ believe.tenseClass ≠ try_.tenseClass ∧ want.tenseClass ≠ try_.tenseClass

All three classes are represented.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.propositional_uses_attitude_eval_time :

classOrientation InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional = TemporalOrientation.simultaneous ∧ Semantics.Tense.standardShift.shiftEvalTime { speechTime := 0, perspectiveTime := 0, referenceTime := 0, eventTime := 5 } = 5

Propositional NOW-anchoring connects to the tense pronoun architecture: propositional infinitives require that the complement's reference time be anchored to a shifted evaluation time (the attitude holder's NOW), exactly as AttitudeTemporalSemantics specifies via shiftEvalTime.

standardShift computes embedded eval time as matrix event time. Propositional infinitives use this as their reference time, yielding the simultaneous reading.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.restructuring_minimal_structure :

classOrientation InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring = TemporalOrientation.dependent ∧ classToSize InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring = ComplementSize.vP_AspP ∧ classHasWoll InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring = false

Restructuring infinitives lack independent tense: they share the matrix temporal domain. This manifests as both dependent orientation AND the smallest complement size (vP_AspP) AND absence of woll.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.futureIrrealis_structural_future :

classHasWoll InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis = true ∧ classToSize InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis = ComplementSize.wollP ∧ classOrientation InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis = TemporalOrientation.futureOriented

Future-oriented complements have woll AND project a wollP: the future modal is structurally present. This is what distinguishes the temporal composition of future infinitives from the other two classes: future orientation comes from a syntactic element (woll), not from the lexical semantics of the matrix predicate alone.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.complement_size_hierarchy :

(classToSize InfinitivalTenseClass.futureIrrealis).isLargerThan (classToSize InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional) = true ∧ (classToSize InfinitivalTenseClass.propositional).isLargerThan (classToSize InfinitivalTenseClass.restructuring) = true

The three classes form a decreasing complement size hierarchy: wollP > TP > vP/AspP. This is @cite{wurmbrand-2001}'s insight that restructuring is complement truncation from the top.

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theorem Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense.woll_iff_future (c : InfinitivalTenseClass) :

classHasWoll c = true ↔ classOrientation c = TemporalOrientation.futureOriented

Woll presence correlates exactly with future orientation: a class has woll iff its orientation is future-oriented.

source

Episodic availability correlates with complement size: larger complements (with their own temporal elements) allow episodic interpretations independent of the matrix, while smaller complements (lacking independent temporal structure) are matrix-dependent.

Documentation

Linglib.Theories.Syntax.Minimalism.Tense.InfinitivalTense

@cite{wurmbrand-2014}: Tense and Aspect in English Infinitives #

Core Mechanisms #

Classification (Table 4) #

Episodic Interpretations (Table 3) #

Limitations #