Infinitival Relative Clauses in English

This paper investigates English infinitival relative clauses. A particular emphasis is put on the syntax and semantics of these constructions. Generally, tensed relative clauses employing wh-forms have no restriction on the use of prepositions. However, infinitival relative clauses do not allow prepositions if the relative pronoun is deleted. In this paper, we review the analyses given in Chomsky (1981) and Dubinsky (1996) and propose a new analysis based on some pragmatic considerations, as an alternative. Particularly we argue that overt boundary indicators are needed in infinitival relative clauses as well as in other non-related constructions.