Here's a breakdown:
* Complement clause: A clause that provides additional information about the subject or object of the main clause.
* Factive verb: A verb that indicates the truth of the complement clause.
Examples of Factive Verbs:
* Know: "I know that she is coming." (It is assumed that she is coming.)
* Realize: "I realized that I had left my keys at home." (It is assumed that you left your keys at home.)
* Regret: "I regret that I missed your party." (It is assumed that you missed the party.)
* Be aware: "I am aware that he is a good singer." (It is assumed that he is a good singer.)
Non-Factive Verbs:
* Think: "I think that she is coming." (This implies that you believe she is coming, but it is not necessarily true.)
* Believe: "I believe that he is innocent." (This implies that you hold this belief, but it is not necessarily true.)
* Say: "She said that she was tired." (This implies that she made this statement, but it may not be true.)
Key Features of Factive Verbs:
* They cannot be used in questions or negative statements.
* They often express emotions or mental states.
* They are typically followed by a "that" clause.
Important Note:
The concept of factive verbs is not universally agreed upon. Some linguists consider certain verbs to be borderline cases. However, the definition and examples provided above are widely accepted in the field of linguistics.