The Present Participle in Swedish: Multifunctionality and Diachronic Change in a Non‐Finite Verb Form ¹

Abstract This paper examines the functions of non‐finite verb forms, the possible combinations of these functions, and how such combinations can change over time, based on a detailed analysis of a Swedish non‐finite verb form traditionally referred to as the present participle. Based on a corpus of 68 Swedish texts spanning 1225–2000, the present paper explores how a non‐finite verb form may shift towards higher or lower finiteness through the novel functions it acquires. The data presented demonstrate that the present participle is originally a nominal form, but through numerous translations from Latin is employed in more verbal uses between 1500 and 1700, to shift towards the nominal uses again after 1700. Based on the Swedish data, the paper presents an extended typology of non‐finites that incorporates a scalar view of finiteness.