Finite vs. Non-finite Verb Forms

Problem:

In German, there is an ambiguity between finite 1stPl and 3rdPl forms (V.FIN) and infinitives (V.INF). Modal auxiliaries introduce another form of ambiguity to infinitive-forms, that is, they can use the infinitival form also in perfect context. We suspect that the encoding of the verb type has an external disambiguation potential with the finite/infinitive ambiguation class, and with the special infinitives of modal verbs.

Tagging practice IMS/TUE and STTS:

Finite and infinite forms are disambiguated. Modal infinitives in perfect context are tagged as infinitives. The distinction between auxiliaries, modal verbs and content verbs is only lemma-based.

• Er hat das nicht essen können/VMINF.
• Er wird das nicht essen können/VMINF.
• Er hat das nicht gekonnt/VMPP.

Tests:

Type Ic

1. No distinction between V,M,A; modal perfect infinitives are tagged as VINF
2. Distinction between V,M,A; modal perfect infinitives are tagged as VMPP
3. No distinction between V,M,A; modal perfect infinitives are tagged as VPP
4. Distinction between V,M,A; modal perfect infinitives are tagged as a seperate class VMINFPP.