possessiveinfinitive

Possessive infinitive is a term used in linguistics to describe a non-finite verb form that encodes possession of the action or event described by the infinitive. In languages that have this feature, the infinitive may be marked to indicate that a possessor owns or controls the event, rather than simply relating to the clause’s subject. The exact realization varies across languages, so the term is mainly used in typological and descriptive grammars rather than in standard English grammar.

Formation and distribution: A possessive infinitive can be realized in several ways. It may attach a possessive suffix or clitic to the infinitive verb to mark the possessor. It may appear in a construction in which the infinitival clause bears a genitive or possessive mark on its subject. Alternatively, a periphrastic form using a possessive auxiliary or a possessive participle may be used. The primary function is to attribute ownership or control of the inflected action to a possessor external to the infinitive clause.

Semantics and uses: Possessive infinitives are often encountered in subordinate clauses where the relationship between the possessor and the action matters for interpretation—such as ownership of the event, responsibility for the action, or the perspective from which the report is given. They are distinct from the perfect infinitive, present participles, or standard infinitives in that possession is foregrounded morphologically.

Notes: The label “possessive infinitive” is a descriptive term that does not imply universality or a single grammatical rule across languages. It is one of several non-finite forms discussed in cross-linguistic syntax and morphosyntax studies.