Non-finite clause
Dr.Shadia Banjar
presented by:
Helah Ali Almohaser
Lane 334
Non-finite verbs
- Non-finite verbs are tenseless because they
can not carry tense.
- The form of non-finite verbs is either:
to+ infinitive
She wants to hold the baby.
bare infinitive
She made him hold the baby .
-ing participle
She left him holding the baby
-en participle
Bored by the baby , she left
Non- finite clause
Non-finite clauses serve a variety of functions :
1) Post-modifier
non-finite clause can function as post- modifiers
to head nouns
The letter for you to type is on your desk
NP (pre-modifiers)+HEAD (+post-modifiers)
post modifiers Non finite clause (s)
S1
NP VP
Det N vgp pp
N S2 Aux v p NP
TENSE Det N
The letter for you to type (pres) is on your desk
2) Adverbial
Whistling cheerfully he (past)typed the letters
A S P dO
s1
s2 NP VP
pro vgp NP
Aux v det N
TENSE
whistling cheerfully he (past) typed the letters
3) Subject
Going to parties (pres) is fun
S P sC
S1
S2 VP
vgp AP
Aux V A
TENSE
Going to parties (pres) is fun
4)Direct object
She (pres) wants to hold the baby
S P dO
S1
NP VP
Pro vgp s2
aux v
TENSE
She (pres) wants to hold the baby
You can check that this is the direct object by
substituting a pronoun:
She wants something
to hold the baby
When a non-finite clause function as a subject
or object ,it seems that the main clause is
incomplete s1She wants s2 him hold the baby
5)Complement of Adjective
She (past) made him sorry to go
S P do oC
S1
NP VP
Pro vgp NP AP
Aux V pro A S2
TENSE
she (past) made him sorry to go
Non finite clause

Non finite clause

  • 1.
    Non-finite clause Dr.Shadia Banjar presentedby: Helah Ali Almohaser Lane 334
  • 2.
    Non-finite verbs - Non-finiteverbs are tenseless because they can not carry tense. - The form of non-finite verbs is either: to+ infinitive She wants to hold the baby. bare infinitive She made him hold the baby .
  • 3.
    -ing participle She lefthim holding the baby -en participle Bored by the baby , she left
  • 4.
    Non- finite clause Non-finiteclauses serve a variety of functions : 1) Post-modifier non-finite clause can function as post- modifiers to head nouns The letter for you to type is on your desk NP (pre-modifiers)+HEAD (+post-modifiers) post modifiers Non finite clause (s)
  • 5.
    S1 NP VP Det Nvgp pp N S2 Aux v p NP TENSE Det N The letter for you to type (pres) is on your desk
  • 6.
    2) Adverbial Whistling cheerfullyhe (past)typed the letters A S P dO s1 s2 NP VP pro vgp NP Aux v det N TENSE whistling cheerfully he (past) typed the letters
  • 7.
    3) Subject Going toparties (pres) is fun S P sC S1 S2 VP vgp AP Aux V A TENSE Going to parties (pres) is fun
  • 8.
    4)Direct object She (pres)wants to hold the baby S P dO S1 NP VP Pro vgp s2 aux v TENSE She (pres) wants to hold the baby
  • 9.
    You can checkthat this is the direct object by substituting a pronoun: She wants something to hold the baby When a non-finite clause function as a subject or object ,it seems that the main clause is incomplete s1She wants s2 him hold the baby
  • 10.
    5)Complement of Adjective She(past) made him sorry to go S P do oC S1 NP VP Pro vgp NP AP Aux V pro A S2 TENSE she (past) made him sorry to go