Prepositional Complement Clauses in English: An Exploration in Cognitive Grammar
Zeki Hamawand

Abstract
This paper seeks to substantiate two fundamental claims of Cognitive Grammar (CG) with respect to prepositional complement clauses introduced by the -ing gerund. One claim is that all linguistic elements posited in grammar have semantic import. On the basis of this claim, the paper argues that the -ing gerund has not only a syntactic function but also conceptual content of its own which conditions its presence in a construction. The other claim is that the syntactic organisation of an expression is a reflection of its semantic organisation, which represents the specific construal imposed on its content. A syntactic alternation reflects semantic contrast. On the basis of this claim, the paper argues that gerundial complement clauses represent different dimensions of construal. The -ing gerund prototypically refers to an action that is going on at the moment of speaking. It points to an activity, expressed in the complement clause, as having duration. This stands in contrast to complement clauses introduced by the to-infinitive which prototypically refers to an action which occurs later in time than that of the main verb. It points to a move, expressed in the complement clause, forward in a series of events. The aim is to show, based on examples, that different grammatical forms carry different meanings and that structure iconically reflects function*.

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