I fear: The Historical Development of the Verb fear and its Changing Patterns of Complementation

抄録

The present paper discusses the historical development of various patterns of complementation of the verb fear, paying particular attention to that）-clauses, infinitives, and gerunds. It will be shown that there is a notable contrast between fear in negation and the same verb in affirmative sentences. The former experiences major shifts of complementation in history, in the process of which the use of to-infinitives and gerunds rises, while the historical development of the latter is characterized by a different path, i.e. the expansion of the parenthetical use of fear. Consequently, the development of to-infinitives and gerunds is not at all prominent with fear in affirmative sentences. Furthermore, this paper also touches upon clauses introduced by but and lest as minor constructions of fear. Their use declines by the 20th century, when the verb undergoes the consolidating process of various possible complementation patterns available in the history of English.