What is a negative purpose relation?

Definition
	A negative purpose relation is a means-purpose relation in which the expressed intent is avoidance of a state or event. The state or event to be avoided is marked by a form equivalent to the meaning of "lest."

Example (English)
	He avoided slippery streets, lest he have an accident.

Generic
	A negative purpose relation is a kind of
	What is a means-purpose relation?

Sources
	Thompson and Longacre 1985 188
	Beekman and Callow 1974 303

Context for this page:

Concept module: negative purpose relation
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): N
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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