SUMMARY OF NON-FINITE VERBS/CLAUSES
Non-finite Clauses
• Remember the definition of a clause = the unit formed around a lexical verb containing all the bits a verb requires as well as optional bits that the speaker/writer chooses to include.
• When a clause is not part of another clause, then it is a SENTENCE.
• A MAIN CLAUSE is that part of a COMPLEX SENTENCE that may stand alone as a sentence itself. The SUBORDINATE CLAUSE is that part of a COMPLEX SENTENCE which depends on the MAIN CLAUSE and which cannot stand alone as a sentence.
• Sentences are always FINITE. This means that the verb of the MAIN CLAUSE is always finite. That is, it carries present or past tense. In this text, MODALS do not carry tense, but they are considered by grammarians to carry present and past tense and are therefore FINITE.
• The verbs in the SUBORDINATE CLAUSES may be FINITE or NON-FINITE. A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE with a FINITE verb in it is called a FINITE CLAUSE. A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE with a NON-FINITE verb in it is called a NON-FINITE CLAUSE.
• The forms of the NON-FINITE (untensed) verbs are 4:
• To + infinitve (She wants to hold the baby) to hold the baby is a non-finite clause which functions as a DIRECT OBJECT in this particular example sentence.
• Bare infinitive (without the ‘to’) (She made him hold the baby) hold the baby is a non-finite clause which functions as an OBJECT COMPLEMENT in this sentence.
• -en past participle (Bored by the baby, she left) Bored by the baby is a non-finite clause which functions as an ADVERBIAL in this sentence.
• -ing present participle (She left him holding the baby) holding the baby is a non-finite clause which functions as an ADVERBIAL in this sentence.
• As you can see above, the NON-FINITE CLAUSE may serve a variety of functions just as FINITE CLAUSES do: Subject, Object, Adverbial, etc.
• NON-FINITE verbs may be more complex with additional auxiliaries (She wants to have held the baby)
Relative Clause
• NON-FINITE CLAUSES can function as POST-MODIFIERS of head noun in NP just like relative clauses do in FINITE CLAUSES: The letter for you to type is on your desk.
• NON-FINITE CLAUSES may appear as POST-MODIFIER of a head noun inside of a noun phrase (just as a RELATIVE CLAUSE may do).
• The NON-FINITE CLAUSE as post-modifier inside a NOUN PHRASE takes on the function of the entire HOUN PHRASE in which it is included.
Adverbial Clause
• NON-FINITE CLAUSES can also function as ADVERBIALS.
• As ADVERBIALS can appear in more than one position in S, the NON-FINITE CLAUSE functioning as ADVERBIAL (S2) is shown in the tree diagram as being immediately dominated by S1 .
• NON-FINITE verbs/clauses functioning as ADVERBIAL may take the forms
• -ing (Whistling cheerfully, he typed the letters)
• to + infinitve (To type the letter accurately, he worked hard)
• -en (Exhausted by his efforts, he left early)
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