2. 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 .
4. 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)
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
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 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
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