Epistemic Phase 7: Multiverb relationship indicating a mental state involving the complement (i.e., the second verb). Typical verbs include think, know, wonder, dream, imagine.
NOTE: We don't typically code the individual verb categories in multiverb utterances. The utterance's "main" category is considered to be the multiverb category. However, if you do find infrequent occurrences of any single verb category after doing your main analysis, you could check back through the multiverb utterances and fill in any categories as necessary.
Utterance |
Context/Explanation |
Susie knows I'm here. | Utterance specifies that the complement (I'm here) is known by Susie. |
I wonder what she'll do. | Utterance specifies that the speaker wonders about the complement (what she'll do). |
CAUTION! Be careful not to code automatically mulitverb utterance containing an epistemic verb as the first verb as epistemic. In order to be epistemic, there must be a mental state involving the complement. Additive, temporal, and causal utterances could also contain epistemic verbs as the first verb. Examples
I knew the answer and Bill did, too. (Additive)
I thought about it then left. (Temporal)
I dreamed about it because I was worried. (Causal)