supineparticiple

Supineparticiple is a proposed non-finite verb form that blends properties of the supine and the participle. In traditional grammars, the supine is a non-finite form used to express purpose or result, while the participle is a non-finite form that can modify a noun or introduce a subordinate clause. A supineparticiple would be a single form capable of serving both purposive and adjectival functions, depending on its syntactic position.

Morphology and syntax: A supineparticiple is typically described as derived from a verb stem and marked to indicate purposive meaning, yet it also behaves like a participle when modifying a noun or forming an adjunct. In practice, it can appear in two primary slots: after a main verb to express purpose (for example, He went to the library [read-SP] to read) and before a noun to modify it (the [read-SP] book). Some analyses treat the form as a fused morpheme that cannot be cleanly separated into a separate supine plus participle, while others analyze it as an extension of one of the two categories.

Semantics and use: The form conveys intended or purposive action and can carry aspectual shading that varies by language. Its exact interpretation—whether durative, punctual, or telic—depends on the language’s broader non-finite system. Cross-linguistically, genuine examples of a unified superseded form are rare, and scholars often debate its status as a distinct category versus a pair of related constructions.

Status and references: The supineparticiple remains a theoretical construct discussed in typological and theoretical work rather than a widely attested grammatical category. Where discussed, it helps describe languages with fused non-finite forms that combine purposive and participial functions, but empirical corroboration is limited.