infinitivalpurposemarking

Infinitivalpur is a term used in linguistic discussions to designate a hypothetical subclass of infinitival constructions that encode purpose within a sentence. The term is not widely established in standard grammars but appears in some theoretical writings as a label for analyzing infinitival clauses whose primary function is to express the goal or aim of the action described in the main clause.

In proposed analyses, infinitivalpur clauses are non-finite and typically accompany verbs of intention or action. They may exhibit control relations between the main clause and the infinitival clause, and may be licensed by matrix predicates that select an agent-oriented interpretation. Cross-linguistically, languages differ in how they realize these purposive infinitivals: some rely on overt infinitival markers such as to- or -infinitives; others use bare infinitives or adverbial phrases to express purpose. The exact status of infinitivalpur—whether it is a distinct syntactic category, a semantic relation, or a convenience for cross-linguistic comparison—varies among analyses.

An English example illustrating the general phenomenon is: She studied to pass the exam. Here, the infinitival clause expresses the purpose of studying. Similar constructions are found in many languages, though the specific realization can vary.

See also: infinitive, purpose clause, non-finite clause, control (linguistics).