Catenative
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈkæ.tə.nə.tɪv/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Catenative is an adjective meaning Having the ability to catenate, or form chains.
Meaning
Having the ability to catenate, or form chains.
More Meanings
- (grammar) A catenative verb.
Example Sentences
Just as many catenatives are followed by the infinitive, so others take the gerund.
Unlike periphrastics, however, catenatives combine certain verbs (e.g., impersonal δεῖ) with an infinitive.
Sentences containing catenatives (e.g., gonna, wanna, haveta, etc.) have one proposition, coded by the main verb following these.
There is a certain arbitrariness in the way catenatives work. For example, we can use the verb like with either a gerund or an infinitive as its object:[…].
Word Forms
- catenatives
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include chainable, mateable, colligable, associable, conjugatable, couplable.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.