CHAPTER II

INTRINSIC COMPLEMENTS

The first, and by far the most numerous, of the two general groups into which prepositional complementary clauses fall is that of intrinsic complements 1. An intrinsic prepositional complement is one in which the preposition represents the complementary relation inherently implied in the meaning of the governing element. Cf. the following typical examples, all of which are taken from La Fontana de oro :

yo no me

el

! Cuánto me alegro de que vengas acá! (84, 22); opongo a que cada cual manifieste sus opiniones (268, 21); insistimos en que empleó las mismas palabras (32, 19); orador continuó su filípica, excitando al pueblo a que no cediera (111, 32); yo estoy seguro de que la encontraremos (299, 16); convengo en que es preciso hacer eso que Vd. dice (259,6); miró a Clara para ver si leía en sus ojos el deseo de que no se marchara (41,14).

In each of the above examples it is apparent that the relation in which the complementary clause stands to its governing element is inherently implied in the meaning of the latter and that, consequently, the preposition representing that intrinsic complementary relation is clearly foreshadowed in the meaning of its governing element 2.

Note that we say alegrarse de, oponerse a, insistir en, etc., using the more common and more indefinite prepositions de,

1 The Oxford English Dictionary defines intrinsic, among other acceptances, as « inherent, essential ».

* Intrinsic complements are by no means confined to prepositional complements. Direct objects are likewise intrinsic complements. Cf. sentences of the type compro una casa. p. 7. ›

a, en, etc. instead of the less frequent and more concrete a causa de, contra, sobre, etc., since the indefinite content of these prepositions suffices to represent the complementary relation, in view of the implication already contained in the governing element. Thus, in intrinsic prepositional complements, the preposition is not one that exactly denotes the nature of the subordinate relationship, but, following the law of linguistic economy, is one of more general use and less definite content, since it represents a relation that is already foreshadowed in the meaning of its governing element, which in normal sentence structure precedes it 1. The exact nature of the complementary relation is, therefore, indicated by the preposition plus the implication inherent in the meaning of the governing element, but it is not fully indicated by either alone. If the governing element is a reflexive or transitive verb or a verb phrase formed with dar (e.g. alegrarse de que, excitar al pueblo a que, dar motivo a una persona a que, etc.) the prepositional complementary clause is the secondary complement and is, in reality, not the complement of the governing element alone, but of the governing element plus its direct (or indirect) object.

The great majority of prepositional complementary clauses are intrinsic complements. Those that cannot be classed as such, will be treated under the head of extrinsic complements 2. In intrinsic prepositional complements, the preposition lacks definite and independent content. Furthermore, it will be found that the degree to which the preposition lacks definite and independent content varies in inverse proportion to the

1 In point of fact there are only two cases in Galdós in which the complementary clause precedes its governing element. Cf. pp. 60, 63. When, for stylistic purposes, it is desired to have the complementary clause precede its governing element, it is introduced by a preposition which indicates the exact nature of the complementary relation; cf. tocante a que, respecto a que, p. 85. cf. p. 93.

2 For discussion and definition of this term,

extent of light thrown upon the nature of the complementary relation by the governing element. In other words, the closer the prepositional complementary clause is related to a direct complementary clause, the less definite and independent content will the preposition possess, until, in some cases, it sinks to the level of a contentless copula.

Now our scheme of classification is, as we have already seen, based upon the extent to which the preposition alone throws light upon the exact nature of the complementary relation, or, stated conversely, the extent to which the preposition lacks definite and independent content 1. Therefore, since this classification is one of degree, a logical subdivision of intrinsic prepositional complements would show the following main Groups: (I) clauses in which more light is thrown upon the exact nature of the complementary relation by the meaning of the governing element than by that of the preposition, and (II) clauses in which light is thrown upon the nature of the complementary relation to relatively equal extent by the meaning both of the governing element and of the preposition. Consequently, in Group I we have those prepositional clauses that are closely related to direct complementary clauses, and in Group II those that lie midway between direct complementary clauses and prepositional supplementary clauses. Group III, as we have seen, comprises those prepositional complementary clauses in which more light is thrown upon the nature of the complementary relation by the meaning of the preposition itself. This group forms the second general class of prepositional complementary clauses, those which shall be designated as « extrinsic complements. >> Extrinsic complementary clauses closely approximate in value prepositional supplementary clauses 2.

1 Cf. Introd., p. 17.

1 Cf. p. 94.

I. MORE LIGHT IS THROWN UPON THE EXACT NATURE OF THE COMPLEMENTARY RELATION BY THE MEANING OF THE GOVERNING ELEMENT THAN BY THAT OF THE PREPOSITION. In the examples in this group the governing element bears a close relation in meaning and function to that type of governing element which is followed by a direct complement 1. Consequently, the prepositional complementary clauses in this group are closely related to direct complements.

The great majority of prepositional complementary clauses belong to this group. Those with de are by far the most frequent, those with a are fairly common, those with en are rather infrequent, and those with con comparatively rare. Prepositional complementary clauses with por and sobre do not occur here.

The examples in this group may be subdivided as follows: (A) clauses which represent determinative complements, (B) clauses which represent the objective genitive, and (C) clauses which represent the relative object 2. But since all determinative complementary clauses and the vast majority of both objective-genitive clauses and relative-object clauses are introduced by the << relative » de (meaning «< concerning, with relation to »), there is often great similarity between the examples in these categories, making impossible a rigid line of demarcation for each individual case (cf. pp. 48, 56).

(

A. Determinative Complementary Clauses. Abstract nouns and demonstrative pronouns often require complements to determine or particularize their meaning in any given phrase or sentence. Cf. el hecho, eso, el temor in the following phrases and sentences: el hecho de haber perdido la fortuna, el temor de la muerte ;

1 Cf. Introd., p. 17.

2 For definition and discussion of the term « relative object », cf. p. 53.

eso de nunca llegar a tiempo; el hecho de que había perdido su fortuna amargaba los últimos días del anciano, el temor de que hubiese muerto mi padre me volvía loco, eso de que nunca llegue el tren a tiempo le exaspera a uno.

Determinative complements are intrinsic complements because the determinative character of the complement is revealed, not by the meaning of the preposition, but by that of the governing element. In determinative complements the preposition is devoid of definite and independent content and may be regarded as a mere contentless copula of subordination. Since the nature of the complementary clause is indicated by the meaning of the governing element and not by that of the preposition, determinative complementary clauses may be regarded as those prepositional complementary clauses that are closest in value to direct complements. In English and in all Romance languages save Spanish and Portuguese, determinative complementary clauses are direct complements in form as well as in value. When abstract nouns require determinative complements, they are often accompanied by the determinative article 1. Consequently, the preceding allustrativee xamples may be analyzed as este hecho que había perdido su fortuna and este temor : que hubiese muerto mi padre. The determinative article is often absent, however, especially when the abstract noun occurs in a set phrase, either verbal or prepositional in value. Cf.

1 The determinative article with abstract nouns must be differentiated from the article usually accompanying abstract nouns in Romance. Comparison with the English, in which the definite article never accompanies an abstract noun, is often helpful in determining whether the article in question is the definite or the determinative article. Certain abstract nouns, when accompanied by the definite article, require no determinative complement; cf. el temor in the sentence el temor le hizo retroceder; here it is equivalent to the English fear ». When the determinative article accompanies the abstract noun a determinative complement is essential. Cf. el temor in the illustrative example above. There it is equivalent to the English « the fear ».