Modal verbs in complement clauses - Interpretable or not?

Abstract

This paper is concerned with modal markers in complement clauses under certain matrix predicates. It discusses two approaches, one by Fabricius-Hansen and Ste chow 1982, the other by Geurts and Huitink 2006, and examines whether overt modal auxiliaries in complement clauses are interpreted or not. This depends on the the complement type: Finite complements are marked modally either overtly or covertly. Infinitival complements are inherently modal and do not allow overt deontic modals.