NON Finite Clauses PDF

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An explanation about what Non finite clauses are and how to locate them in texts
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Non-finite clause In linguistics, a non-finite clause is a dependent or embedded clause whose verbal chain is nonfinite containing infinitives, participles and gerunds. According to non-functionalists, non-finite clause serves a grammatical role – commonly that of a noun, adjective, or adverb – in a greater clause that contains it. According to functionalists, a dependent non-finite clause either represents a circumstance for some process that is going on (a place, a time, a cause, an effect, a condition, and so on) whereas an embedded one represents a qualification for something that is being represented as in I'm on a street (called Bellevue Avenue) and (playing videogames) is fun, which are more typical alternatives to I'm on a street (that is called Bellevue Avenue)and the activity of (playing videogames) is fun . Structure A typical finite clause consists of a finite form of the verb together with its objects and other dependents (i.e. a verb phrase or predicate), along with its subject (although in certain cases the subject is not expressed). A non-finite clause is similar, except that the verb must be in a non-finite form (such as an infinitive, participle, gerund or gerundive), and it is consequently much more likely that there will be no subject expressed, i.e. that the clause will consist of a (non-finite) verb phrase on its own. Some examples are given below. Finite clauses 

Kids play on computers. (an independent clause)



I know that kids play on computers. (a dependent (subordinate) clause, but still finite)



Play on your computer! (an imperative sentence, an example of an independent finite clause lacking a subject)

Non-finite clauses 

Kids like to play on computers. (an infinitival clause using the English to-infinitive)



It's easy for kids to play on computers. (an infinitival clause containing periphrastic expression of the subject)



Playing on computers, they whiled the day away. (a participial clause, using a present participle)



The kids playing on their computers, we were able to enjoy some time alone. (a participial clause with a subject)



Having played on computers all day, they were pale and hungry. (a participial clause using a past participle)



Playing on computers is fun. (a gerund-participial clause)

Some types of non-finite clause have zero in one of the object or complement positions; the gap is usually understood to be filled by a noun from the larger clause in which the non-zero clause appears (as is the subject "gap" in most non-finite clauses). These clauses are also called hollow non-finite clauses.[4]

Some examples: 

He is the man to beat. (infinitival clause with zero object; the man is understood as the object)



That car wants looking at straight away. (gerund-participial clause with zero preposition complement after at)



The building was given a new lease of life. (past-participial clause with zero indirect object)

Use As a dependent clause, a non-finite clause plays some kind of grammatical role within a larger clause that contains it. What this role can be, and what the consequent meaning is, depends on the type of non-finite verb involved, the constructions allowed by the grammar of the language in question, and the meanings of those constructions in that language. Some examples are noted below: 

To live is to suffer in silence. (infinitival clauses used as subject and object)



We went there to collect our computers. (infinitival clause used as an adverbial of purpose)



They were sitting quietly. (participial clause used as verb complement to express progressive aspect)



The man sitting quietly is the man to watch. (participial clause used as noun modifier)



Well beaten, we slumped back to the dressing room. (participial clause used as nominative absolute)



I like taking naps. (gerund-participial clause used as a noun phrase)

Non-finite Clauses There are three kinds of non-finite clauses: their verb groups contain infinitives, present participles, or past participles. We'll first consider infinitives. There are two types of infinitives: one with to, as in (1), and a bare one, without to, as in (2). The bare one occurs only after verbs such as make, see, hear and feel, but the to-infinitive occurs very frequently: 1.

I expected him to go.

2.

I made him leave.

Apart from infinitives, there are two other kinds of non-finite Verb Groups, usually referred to as participles: a present participle ending in ing, as in (3), and a past participle ending in -ed or -en, as in (4): Walking down Rural Road, he was bothered by the traffic lights. Arrested last night, he is in jail this morning. 5.

[To walk in the Superstitions] is/was nice.

In addition, the verb in non-finite clauses displays no person or number marking, as is shown by the ungrammaticality of walks in (6): 6.

*[For him to walks in the Superstitions] is nice.

A third characteristic of non-finites is that the subject is not nominative. Thus, (7), (8), and (9) are grammatical with accusative him, but (10) with nominative he is not: 7.

I want [him to go].

8.

I heard [him/Edward playing a song].

9. She couldn't bear to see [him/Edward suffering]. 10.

*I want he to go.

The non-finite clause can also be replaced by a verbal noun, as in (11), and then the subject bears genitive case, namely his/Edward's, rather than accusative or objective, as in (7), (8), and (9). This construction is often called a gerund in traditional grammars, and suffering is a noun rather than a verb: 11.

She couldn't bear to see [his/Edward's suffering].

The Functions of non-finites The functions of non-finite clauses are similar to those of finite ones. They function at sentence level as subject in (13), and (5) above; direct object in (14), and (7) above; adverbial in (15), and (3) and (4) above; and subject predicate in (16):

13.

[Eating pancakes] is a pleasant thing.

14.

I love [eating pancakes].

15.

He went there [to see them].

16.

The problem is [to decide on what to eat].

Dangling or Misplaced Modifiers, or Improper Adverbials The prescriptive rule is as follows: "The subject of a clause with a participle in it (i.e. without a subject of its own) must be the same as the subject of the main clause". Swan (!!1980: 455) provides the following rule: "It is usually considered [note the qualifiers, EvG] a mistake to make sentences like these in which the subjects are different: Looking out of the window of our hotel, there were lots of mountains . . . However, there are some very common expressions which break this rule. Generally speaking, . . . Judging from his expression, . . . Considering, . . .". Fowler (!!1926 [1950]: 675) says that "it is to be remembered that there is a continual change going on by which certain participles or adjectives acquire the character of prepositions or adverbs, no longer needing the prop of a noun to cling to". Hence, neither Swan nor Fowler are very critical of the use. `Incorrect' uses are given in (36) to (39). Some of these are funny because we automatically think of the modifiers as having the same subject as the main clause: 36. 37.

Running down the street, the house was on fire. Referring to your letter of 5 September, you do not state ...

38. Reading your essays last night, there were many good examples of dangling modifiers. 39. Although spoken in Shakespeare's First Folio, we do not speak that way today. 40.

Lying in a heap on the floor, she found the clothes.

Sometimes, they seem to be able to refer to either the subject or the closest NP, as in (41), but I think the first meaning we come up with is the one where the waiter is drenched in syrup: 41.

The waiter brought the waffles to the table drenched in maple syrup.

The subtitle of the book, adapted from Hamlet and repeated as (42), is also an instance of a possibly misplaced modifier. It depends on who is sleeping: 42.

Sleeping in mine orchard, a serpent stung me.

Syntactic functions of non-finite subclauses I ADJECTIVAL 1. The fireman battled an inferno fuelled by toxic chemicals. (postmodifier) 2.

The decision to show the car was taken last November. (postmodifier)

3.

I was given a receipt showing the agent's ATOL number. (postmodifier)

4. Harry came in, jaded and tired, and asked for a cup of tea. (free predicative)

II ADVERBIAL 5.

Though fearful of road conditions, they decided to go by car. (adjunct)

6. Reflecting on my past, I wondered if I had made the right choices. (adjunct) 7. To make matters worse, the demands from middle and upper classes could only be supplied through importation of sophisticated goods. (disjunct) 8. They are keen to stress shopping as a family activity. (compl. of adjective)

III NOMINAL 9.

Formulating such laws is by no means an easy task. (subject)

10. It is good to see those numbers again. (subject) 11. The problem is finding a company willing to do it. (subject predicative) 12. She had always longed to go abroad. (direct object) 13. They were unhappy about playing two games in three days. (compl. of prep.)

Finite vs. non-finite clauses 14. I heard her play the piano. the piano.

I heard her playing

15. He regretted having lied to her. had lied to her.

He regretted that he

16. The girl playing that piano must be tone deaf. The girl who is/was playing that piano must be tone deaf. The girl who plays/played that piano must be tone deaf.

17. Walking along the lake before breakfast, Mr. Podger had seen the sunrise. When/Because he (had) walked … / While he was walking … 18. Having made the round, he walked out. When/After/Because he had made the round, he walked out.

Infinitive clauses 19. Mr Logan called for action to be taken to inform the public of the dangers. 20. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our website. 21. He was glad to be alive. 22. A management college is turning to Shakespeare for lessons on how to survive in business. 23. To be honest, I'm getting pretty tired of talking about Jack.

UNDERSTOOD/EXPRESSED SUBJECT: 24. I would prefer to leave immediately. 25. I would prefer Jack/him to leave immediately. 26. For Jack/him to leave immediately would be preferable. j27. A spring tide caused the sea to come in much faster than usual.

Past participle clauses ADJECTIVAL FUNCTION (REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES – PASSIVE) 28. They criticized the schools designed to deal with disruptive pupils. (restrictive) 29. On August 3, two massive headlands reared out of the mists – great gateways never before seen by Europeans. (restrictive) 31. One of Britain's rarest bugs, never before seen in Scotland, has been found in an ancient woodland in Fife. (non-restrictive)

ADVERBIAL FUNCTION 32. (When) asked about his opinion, he complained about the poor service. 33. Seen from the side, the dog's forehead is sharply set off from the bridge of the nose.

-ing participle clauses NOMINAL FUNCTION 34. Julius Cesar is about learning to cope with the fallout of betrayal. 35. For Australians, throwing a prawn on the barbecue will never be the same. 36. There is no mistaking the monster prawn in the fish market.

ADJECTIVAL FUNCTION (REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES – ACTIVE) 37. Susan Hackmann, age 14, from Baltimore, showing a Dachshund, was 3rd. 38. I asked an old guy running a fishing station if the boat was Moore's.

ADVERBIAL FUNCTION 39. (While) running across the field I saw a beautiful horse. (adjunct) 40. Generally speaking, that is not the attitude of the Tories. (disjunct)

-ING CO-ORDINATION 41. He returned and closed the front door, making sure it was unlocked. 42. We play a fun game, trying to remember the day’s coaching tips. 43. Most people have left early to avoid the rush hour, meaning there are only 18 people taking part in the end-of-weekend mixed doubles tournament.

Verbless clauses 44. While new to biology, the species has been increasingly appearing on fish stalls in Sydney. 45. Once the imperial capital of the medieval Bundela dynasty Orchha is the perfect backdrop for a film about gods and the past.

Exercises Finite or non finite? 1. I struggle to live.

2. He can't go with her. 3. Going faster is dangerous for kids. 4. All the teachers have gone away to the university. 5. Reading is good for the mind. 6. I don’t have time to talk. 7. Cooking is my favorite hobby. 8. We were dropped off at the camp. 9. The freshly cooked cookies are tasty. 10.I am going with her. 11.I saw her going up the stairs. 12.I saw a snake going across the river.

All these sentences have at least one dangling modifier. Identify them and fix them. Being blind, a dog guided her across the street. When absent through illness, the company pays you your full salary for six months. Running for the bus, my book fell in the mud. Upon entering the doctor's office, a skeleton caught my attention. To please the neighbors, some fireworks were set off a day early. Though only sixteen years old, the college accepted Martha's application. Climbing up the ladder carefully, the frightened cat was brought down from the tree. After a quick change into my hospital gown, the nurse told me to relax. Before replacing any wall outlet, the electricity should be turned off. Vegetables are an important part of your culinary repertoire. To be cooked well, you must steam vegetables. As a long sturdy rod, I know the Bassmaster 2000 is the best fishing pole available for fly-fishing. I have many fond memories of my Aunt Judy. While still a boy, my Aunt Judy and I went to the Dallas Cup Rodeo. For something so rustic, the event was quite exciting. Dentists provide many useful tips for your health. For instance, flossing your teeth daily, gum disease can be prevented.

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