3.2.4. Interpretation of embedded negation in the matrix clause
In some complex sentences, the negation that is associated with the subordinate clause appears on the main verb. One place where this happens is with the main verb want. In the sentence below, what Melek wants is ‘not to meet her friends today’. However, the negative marker not, instead of appearing in the embedded clause as the meaning suggests, appears in the main clause, negating the main verb (as it does in the English translation):
___ht-b
melek [today friend meet] want.not
‘Melek doesn’t want to meet her friends today.’
(Göksel & Kelepir 2016: 13; ex. 18)
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant Agreement No 693349.