Categorial Conflict between Phrasal-Prepositional Verbs and Infinitives: The Great Complement Shift

The development of grammatical forms and synchronic effects has captured a considerable interest researchers across the globe. research this phenomenon is done to understand how certain linguistic arise interact with other forms. Literature also discloses that number studies addressed grammaticalisation prepositions, which somehow resulted in categorial conflict. However, there dearth literature deals /to/ distinguish between phrasal-prepositional verbs infinitives as way resolving Again, some L2 students confuse complementation verb look forward infinitives. They fail draw line demarcation two constructions. Therefore, qualitative study seeks explore status infinitive clauses. It identifies category label describes its complementation. purposively conveniently extracted data from Scott’s (2022) compilation both application cover letters. Following Minimalist Program, reveals have gone through process grammaticalisation. noted verb, still preposition while clauses, it great shift known decategorisation extension, hence variation labelling. presents structures clauses vary based on theory concepts adopted. As result, concluded due infinitive, their differs.