Abstract
This paper presents a novel analysis of subordinate clause structure in Turkish, focusing on subordinations formed by the following three suffixes: the infinitival -mA(K) with tenseless and (ir)realis usages, and -DIK/ -(y)ACAK with a (non)future temporal specification. We present a classification aligning each form on the Implicational Complementation Hierarchy (ICH) proposed in Wurmbrand and Lohninger (2020), which provides a solution for the subject puzzle observed with these clauses: only infinitival -mA(K) clauses with their (ir)realis use are compatible with being the subject of a transitive verb. We propose that (ir)realis infinitival clauses belong to the situation class in the ICH, and that this middle class is of the ideal semantic complexity and syntactic size for a clausal subject in Turkish.
Highlights
It is possible to form embedded clauses in Turkish by adding a ‘nominalizer’ suffix to the embedded verb
We propose that depending on the verb that selects them, infinitival nominalized clauses in Turkish belong to two different complementation classes: situations or events
This paper called into focus the restrictions on the types of Turkish nominalizations that can serve as the clausal subject of a transitive verb
Summary
It is possible to form embedded clauses in Turkish by adding a ‘nominalizer’ suffix to the embedded verb. Tonight will.hear ‘Ali will hear tonight that Aylin came yesterday/ has just come/ will come tomorrow.’ As another independence property, structural accusative case is available for an embedded object, when the matrix verb is in both active and passive voice, as shown in (10). We propose that depending on the verb that selects them, infinitival nominalized clauses in Turkish belong to two different complementation classes: situations or events. In a subject control structure, they look very similar, as in (15a-b), with both embedded verbs lacking agreement marking on them, but only the former allows partial control Another distinguishing factor is that in a situation class infinitival complement, it is possible to have an optionally silent genitive embedded subject with independent interpretation. We claim that the first type belongs to the situation class while the second belongs to the event class
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