On Arabic verbs accepting overt and modified derived nominal and their equivalents in English : a semantic study

Abstract EN

Lots of studies have been done on the semantic structure of gerund and infinitive in English.

However no analytical or contrastive study has been conducted on their counterparts in Arabic (overt and modified derived nominal) yet.

Thus, this paper reviews the latest studies done on infinitive and gerund in English then it attempts to apply the outcomes reached in English on Arabic overt and modified derived nominal to spot points of differences.

This study tackles the point semantically for the purpose of highlighting the semantic entry of Arabic verbs which accept either of these constructions or both.

Here I will argue that there are certain explicable semantic features that motivate the Arabic native speaker in choosing one form over the other and that the semantics of verb behavior plays a major role in this overt and modified derived nominal dichotomy.

The proposal clarifies that verbs associated with these constructions can be classified into four basic working categories according to their lexical meanings and their behaviors : emotive verbs, aspectual verbs, reactive verbs, and forward-oriented or commitment verbs.