Complement clauses with Secondary verbs

Leaving aside MODALS, Secondary verb constructions in English show a non-alignment between syntax and semantics. The Secondary verb is syntactically the main verb but from a semantic point of view it modifies the verb of the complement clause, which is the semantic focus of the sentence.

The kinds of semantic relation between a Secondary verb and the verb in the subordinate clause can be coded—in semantically appropriate ways— by THAT, ING, Modal (FOR) TO and (FROM) ING complement constructions. Secondary verbs of types A, B and C do not allow WH- or WH- TO complements since they provide semantic qualification of another verb, which is incompatible with seeking clarification; and they do not occur in Judgement TO constructions since they do not delineate opinion or judgement. The Secondary-D types have somewhat different properties—SEEM may occur in a special kind of Judgement TO construction, and MATTER may occur with a WH- complement.