Nonfinite clauses

Finite, nonfinite, and verbless clauses

(Quirk: A Student´s Grammar of the English Language, 14.3)

We recognize three main structural classes of clauses:

FINITE CLAUSE: a clause whose verb element is finite (such as takes, took, can work, has worked, is writing, was written; eg:

I can’t go out with you because I am studying this evening.

NONFINITE CLAUSE: a clause whose verb element is nonfinite (such as to work, having worked, taken; eg:

Knowing my temper, I didn’t reply.

VERBLESS CLAUSE: a clause that does not have a verb element, eg:

Although always helpful, he was not much liked.

Nonfinite clauses

(Quirk: A Student´s Grammar of the English Language, 14.4)

The classes of nonfinite verb phrase serve to distinguish four structural subclasses of nonfinite verb clauses:

1. TO INFINITIVE:

Without subject: The best thing would be to tell everybody.

With subject: The best thing would be for you to tell everybody.

1. BARE INFINITIVE:

Without subject: All I did was hit him on the head.

With subject: Rather than you do the job, I’d prefer to finish it myself.

1. -ING PARTICIPLE:

Without subject: Leaving the room, he tripped over the mat.

With subject: Her aunt having left the room, I asked Ann for some personal help.

1. -ED PARTICIPLE:

Without subject: Covered with confusion, they apologized abjectly.

With subject: The discussion completed, the chairman adjourned the meeting for half and hour.