Aitor Marti Nez Jaime Ponce Non Finite Clauses

7/21/2019 Aitor Marti Nez Jaime Ponce Non Finite Clauses

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NON-FINITE CLAUSESAitor Martnez Rolle

Jaime Ponce de Querol


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1. Introduction

2. Non-finite forms

3. Catenative constructions and verbless

4. Functions

5. Practical grammar

6. Exercises

7. Sources


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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

imperativemay have a non subject NP left understood

Non-finite usually replaces that-clauses.


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2.FORMS

InfinitiveBare infinitive

You had better say nothing.

To-infinitiveWe began to go to the cinema every week.

Gerund participleHe was accused of smuggling.

Past participleI want those exercises done.


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3.CATENATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

AND VERBLESS

CatenativeSubstitution 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.

VerblessPredicator is missing.

Usually associated with the function as an adjunct


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4.FUNCTIONS

Subject and extraposed subjectOnly to-infinitive clauses and -ing participle

clausesTo 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 of a POnly Ing participle clauses can complement apreposition within PP-Ing participle: We became zombies through watching

TV.


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4.FUNCTIONS

Complement of VgrpTo 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 of a NOnly to infinitive

His ability to think straight was severely impaired by the

experience.Complement of ATo infinitive and ing participle

To infinitive: This exercise is impossible to finish.Ing participle: Judith was busy stuffing the peppers.


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4.FUNCTIONS

AdverbialPast 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 of a NOMTo 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.


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5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

Uses of the infinitiveTo 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


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5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

When there is a personal object but we want

the infinitive to refer unambiguously to the

subjectHe 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+prepositionI want a case to keep my records in


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5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

Connect two clausesHe survived the clash only to die in the desert.

To replace relative clausesShe 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 themI have letters to write.

As sentence adverbialsTo be perfectly honest

To be fair


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5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

GerundAs a subject of a sentence

As a complement of a verb

After prepositionsIm tired of being here.

Phrasal verbsIm looking forward to meeting her.

In noun compounds

A diving boardVerbs+possessive adjective/ pronoun+gerund

He insisted on me reading the letter.Tom insisted on reading the letter.


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5.PRACTICAL GRAMMAR

ParticipleAs an adjective

To replace relative clauses


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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 arelative clause.


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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


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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, thoughcrystallised into its current guise by the yamakasi sometime in

the 1980s, is a practice


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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.


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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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Aitor Marti Nez Jaime Ponce Non Finite Clauses