Factual verb
As faktives verb is called in linguistics a verb , taking a subordinate clause as its direct object and assumes the validity of the described in facts due to its importance as a word fact. In other words, it is a verb that presupposes the truth of the subordinate clause (an factual presupposition is one type of presupposition along with several others).
A common test is that the subordinate clause is always true, even if the verb is negated:
- Factual verb
- z. B. repent
- Otto regrets that he ate the chocolate. (Implication: He ate it.)
- Otto does not regret having finished the chocolate. (The same conclusion.)
- Not factual
- z. B. prove
- Otto proved that the earth is spherical. (Implication: It is a confirmed fact that the earth is spherical.)
- Otto did not prove that the earth is spherical. (The above conclusion does not apply.)
Different grammatical effects are ascribed to the distinction between factual and non-factual, but these are perhaps more tendencies than laws without exception; z. B. that faktive verbs no subordinate clauses in Verbzweitstellung permit (see details here ), or that the settlement of a Korrelatpronomens more likely to factive interpretation of the subordinate clause leads (see. He believes it is not that the chocolate is gone. ). In addition, the property of being factual does not seem completely stable in many verbs, but verbs can be reinterpreted to a certain extent if the presupposed state of affairs is obviously not given.
Differentiation from other words
The similar-sounding term factitive denotes a variant of the term causative verb (see there for details); the two terms have no context in terms of content.