This document discusses the different uses of non-finite clauses in English sentences. Non-finite clauses contain a verb in an infinitive, present participle or past participle form but do not show tense. The document examines how non-finite clauses can function as subjects, objects, relative clauses, and adverbial clauses of purpose in sentences. It provides examples for each use and explains how the structure of sentences changes when the non-finite clause is replaced or moved.

1. Non-finite clauses
Unit 11 Objective IELTS Advanced

2. Non-finite clauses
 Have a verb that doesn’t show tense (an infinitive, present participle or
past participle). We usually use non-finite verbs only in subordinate clauses
and understand the time referred to from the context of the main clause.
e.g. Parts of Pangea drifted across the Earth, gradually breaking into smaller
continents.

3. As an object
Infinitive or present participle, depending on the verb that it follows.
• I hope to see a glacier during my trip to Argentina.
• I enjoy listening to the sound of the waves.
• Geologists/ hope / understand /more / earthquakes.
• Wegener / wrote / about /drift / continents.

4. As subject, at the beginning of the
sentence
 Present participle
 Preventing pollution of the lagoon may not be easy.
Prove / his theory was difficult.
Answer / his critics was impossible.
Sail / across the globe is a courageous feat.
Sit / the IELTS test will be a great challenge.
Raise / children has been hard work!

5. When it replaces the non-finite clause as a
subject, the clause moves to the end of the
sentence
 Infinitive
 E.g. ‘Preventing pollution of the lagoon may not be easy’ becomes:
 It may not be easy to prevent pollution of the lagoon.
 ‘Gaining acceptance from the scientific community took time’ becomes:
 It took time / gain acceptance from the scientific community.
 It was impossible / answer his critics, as they thought rock was immovable.
 It is a courageous feat / sail around the globe.
 It will be a great challenge / to sit the IELTS test.
 It has been hard work / raise children.

6. As an object with it replacing the non-finite
clause, which moves to the end of the
sentence
 Infinitive
 E.g. ‘The government is finding persuading people to move away from the
coast hard’ becomes:
 The government is finding it hard to persuade people to move away from
the coast.
 Wegener found it difficult /convince the scientific community of this
theory.
 Many considered it impossible / answer his critics, as they thought rock was
immovable.
 People regard it as a courageous feat / sail around the globe.
 Students find it a great challenge / sit the IELTS test.
 Parents believe it to be hard / raise children.

7. As a relative clause, with active
meaning
 Present participle
 The talk is aimed at scientists (who are) studying sea temperatures.
 Those /now /study /geology /agree with Wegener’s ideas.

8. As a relative clause, with passive
meaning
 Past participle
 Measurements (that were) taken over the last two centuries showed how the
coastline had changed.
 Pink diamonds mine / in South Africa are sought after all over the world and
are produced by geological pressure.
 Wegener discredit / by his peers died before his theory was accepted.
 Rock drag / beneath the sea floor is then melted
 Carbon release / when volcanoes erupt is discharged back into the
atmosphere.
 Change the verb form above, and insert relative pronouns and verbs in
brackets.

9. As a form of relative clause
 Infinitive
 A good person (who you can) to consult about plate tectonics is your
professor.
 The talk (which will be)/ be given tomorrow will be about the formation of
mountains.
 Earthquakes / happen nowadays are known about through the recording of
seismic activity.
 The first person / speak at the conference was a geologist.
 Ortelius was the first person / suggest the continents were torn apart.
 The election / held in June will be a close result.
 Complete the verb form above, and insert relative pronouns and verbs in
brackets.

10. As an adverbial clause of purpose
 Infinitive
 Diagrams are used to illustrate abstract concepts quickly.
 A bridge has been constructed / provide easy access to the island.
 Tests are done in mystudy / support student learning.
 We come to school / improve English.
 They are leaving now / reach Margaret River before noon.
 She wants to study in English / perfect her accent.
 Change the verb form above to complete the sentences.