CHAOS
  • Map-Legend:
  • A2-Neg-V2-V1
  • V2-Neg-A2-V1
  • V1-A2-Neg-V2
  • V1-V2-Neg-A2
  • Mixed Data
  • No Data
LanguageQuestionSubquestionColorParameterValuePreference
Czech52aA2-Neg-V2-V11P
Czech52aV1-A2-Neg-V21S
Czech52aV1-V2-Neg-A21S
Gagauz52aA2-Neg-V2-V11
Gagauz52aV2-Neg-A2-V11
Gagauz52aV1-A2-Neg-V21
Gagauz52aV1-V2-Neg-A21
Mongolian52aA2-Neg-V2-V11NA
Newari52aA2-Neg-V2-V11
Polish52aA2-Neg-V2-V11
Polish52aV2-Neg-A2-V10.5
Polish52aV1-A2-Neg-V21
Polish52aV1-V2-Neg-A20.5
Standard German52aA2-Neg-V2-V11
Oromo52aA2-Neg-V2-V11

(52) Can negation (Neg) scope over the matrix verb V1 when it is placed between V2 and an argument of V2?

He (has) never tried (several times) to kill the rat.
Neg V1 A1 V2 A2

Please note that A1 is an argument or adjunct of V1; and A2 is an argument or adjunct of V2.

Alternatives to be checked: A2-Neg-V2-V1 / V2-Neg-A2-V1 / V1-A2-Neg-V2 / V1-V2-Neg-A2

a) to try

Prompt: Bill tried to kill the rat.

No. Bill (has) never tried to kill the rat.

*No. Bill (has) the rat never to kill tried. (A2-Neg-V2-V1)

*No. Bill (has) to kill never the rat tried. (V2-Neg-A2-V1)

*No. Bill (has) tried the rat never to kill. (V1-A2-Neg-V2)

*No. Bill (has) tried to kill never the rat. (V1-V2-Neg-A2)

German

Bill hat die Ratte nie zu töten versucht.
Bill has the.ACC rat never to kill tried

'Bill never tried to kill the rat.' (A2-Neg-V2-V1)

Explanation: Try to avoid cases in which the negator does not have scope over V1. For instance, the following German example is grammatical, but the negation has scope over V2 instead:

Bill hat versucht die Ratte nie zu töten.
Bill has tried the.ACC rat never to kill

'Bill (has) tried to never kill the rat.'