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In the English language and others, catenative verbs are verbs which can be followed within the same clause by another verb. This second subordinated verb can be in either the infinitive (both full and bare) or gerund forms. An example appears in the sentence He deserves to win the cup, where "deserve" is a catenative verb which can be followed directly by another verb, in this case a to-infinitive construction.
Some catenative verbs are used in the passive voice followed by an infinitive: You are forbidden to smoke in here.
These verbs are called "catenative" because of their ability to form chains in catenative constructions. For example: We need to go to the tennis court to help Jim to get some practice before the game.
Form of the verb following the catenative verb
Some catenative verbs are followed by a to-infinitive: "He agreedto work on Saturday"
Some catenative verbs are followed by a gerund: "He admittedtaking the money".
Some catenative verbs are followed by either a to-infinitive or a gerund, either with or without a difference in meaning between the two structures:
No difference in meaning:
It began to rain.
It began raining.
Difference in meaning:
I forgot to go to the shopping centre. (I wanted to go to the shopping centre but then didn't go.)
I forgot going to the shopping centre. (I cannot remember the experience of going.)
Some catenative verbs may be followed either by a bare infinitive or by a to-infinitive:
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey K. Pullum. A Student's Introduction to English Grammar, Cambridge University Press, 2005
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