Abstract
The aim of this work is to analyse factors influencing the interpretation of the implicit meaning of the French gérondif (Ger), and to explain, on the basis of this research, the semantic functioning of this non-finite verbal form (in connection with its equivalents in Czech). Our departing point is that the Ger form functions as an interpretation instruction, which defines the means of the integration of the action of the Ger into the action of the main proposition.
This interpretation instruction defines the semantic invariant of the Ger, and thus its basic meaning; other meanings are derived on the basis of complex interactions of syntactic, lexical and pragmatic factors. The method used to examine these factors is based on a computer analysis of wide data acquired from monolingual and parallel corpora (FRANTEXT and InterCorp).