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NON-FINITE CLAUSES

Aitor Martnez Rolle

Jaime Ponce de Querol

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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Introduction
Non-finite forms
Catenative constructions and verbless
Functions
Practical grammar
Exercises
Sources

1.INTRODUCTION
Complex

sentence in which there is


subordination.
Tenseless.
Features:
Non-finite

clause can have special subordinates (to

and for)
Can lack overt subjects despite not being
imperative
may have a non subject NP left understood
Non-finite usually replaces that-clauses.

2.FORMS
Infinitive
Bare

infinitive

You had better say nothing.

To-infinitive

We began to go to the cinema every week.

Gerund

He was accused of smuggling.

Past

participle

participle

I want those exercises done.

3.CATENATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS
AND VERBLESS

Catenative

Substitution

of the subordinates is not possible


Some verbs such (seem, appear)can have other
categories of complement, but the function is
different than the one of a non-finite form of the verb.
Two types:
Simple: Max regrets locking the door.
Complex: I remember Sue locking the door.

Verbless

Predicator

is missing.
Usually associated with the function as an adjunct

Subject
Only

4.FUNCTIONS

and extraposed subject

to-infinitive clauses and -ing participle


clauses

To infinitive: It was clear who to nominate.


Ing participle: Driving a car is a difficult thing.
Ing participle clauses with overt subject cannot be
extraposed: Oscar attempting the double somersault
should amuse you.

Complement
Only

of a P

Ing participle clauses can complement a


preposition within PP

-Ing participle: We became zombies through watching


TV.

4.FUNCTIONS
Complement
To

of Vgrp

and bare infinitive, -ing participle and past participle.

To and bare infinitive: Her parents intend to buy her a car/ The
Devil made me do it.
Ing participle: remember telling you about her visit.
Past participle: I could have you dismissed on the spot

Complement
Only

of a N

to infinitive

His ability to think straight was severely impaired by the


experience.

Complement
To

of A

infinitive and ing participle

To infinitive: This exercise is impossible to finish.


Ing participle: Judith was busy stuffing the peppers.

4.FUNCTIONS
Adverbial
Past

participle, ing participle and to infinitive

Past participle: I want those accusations investigated.


Ing participle: Having sold the swamp, Buster departed.
To infinitive: I go to the gym to keep fit.

Modifier
To

of a NOM

infinitive, -ing participle and past participle

To infinitive: He was the last person to be executed on the


guillotine.
Ing participle: Who was the doctor performing the
operation?
Past participle: The guns stolen in the break-in were
recovered.

5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR
Uses
To

of the infinitive

express purpose

He went to France to learn French


In order+to+infinitive: either the subject wants to
perform the action or he wants it to happen
When purpose is less immediate
She gave up work in order to have more time
with her children.
To emphasize that it expresses purpose

5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR
When

there is a personal object but we want


the infinitive to refer unambiguously to the
subject

He sent his sons to a boarding school in order to have


some peace.

To

emphasize that the subject really had the


purpose in mind

Infinitive+noun+preposition
I

want a case to keep my records in

5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

Connect two clauses


He

survived the clash only to die in the desert.

To replace relative clauses


She

was the only to survive the crash (the only one


who survived)

After nouns or pronouns to show they can be


used or what is to be done with them
I

have letters to write.

As sentence adverbials
To

be perfectly honest
To be fair

5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

Gerund
As

a subject of a sentence
As a complement of a verb
After prepositions

Im tired of being here.

Phrasal

In

verbs

Im looking forward to meeting her.

noun compounds

A diving board

Verbs+possessive

adjective/ pronoun+gerund

He insisted on me reading the letter.


Tom insisted on reading the letter.

5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR
Participle
As

an adjective
To replace relative clauses

6.EXERCISES
The sentences below are a diverse set of
examples taken from different sources. Look at
them and:
a)Identify

the non-finite forms.


b)Identify the subordinate clause to which they
belong.
c)Replace, if possible, with a that-clause or a
relative clause.

6.EXERCISES

From @smoshanthony, via Twitter

A joke in our new vid was similar to the one made by @thetomska.
Weve seen his videos but never the one with the similar joke. Id
like to apologize for somehow using the same joke despite never
seeing the video. We have much respect for you, @thethomska,
and would never intentionally steal from you.

From BBC News

An air and sea search is called off for four British yachtsmen
missing in the Atlantic after their boat began taking in water.
Thousands of people line the streets of north London to celebrate
Arsenals FA Cup final victory over Hull

6.EXERCISES

Stars including Olivia Colman and Mark Gatiss gather on the red
carpet
The search for a crew member from Brecon missing from his
vessel in the Mediterranean Sea has been called off.
An RAF spy plane has left the UK to help search for 223
schoolgirls abducted by Islamic militants in Nigeria.

From Parkour Generations

Le Parkour, originally named Lart du Deplacement, though


crystallised into its current guise by the yamakasi sometime in
the 1980s, is a practice

6.EXERCISES

It has a drawn on a myriad of sources, been inspired by a number


of notable individuals and evolved through several traditions to
arrive at the modern discipline.
For many practitioners the goal is to master their own physical
vessel, to sophisticate their mobility and improve their overall
agility.
Yet more walk the path for esoteric reasons, finding philosophy
and contemplating the way as they go.

7.SOURCES
Huddleston, R. & G. Pullum. (2006). A Students
Introduction to English Grammar. . Cambridge:
C.U.P
Burton-Roberts, N. (1997/2010). Analysing
Sentences. London and New York: Longman.
Quirk, Randolph & Greenbaum, Sidney (1973). A
university grammar of English. Longman,
[Harlow]

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