Key words academic english, syntactic functions of finitenonfinite clauses. A subordinate clause is grammatically dependent on some element. Textual values 333 if from a syntactic point of view the structure of a complex sentence does not undergo changes depending on the place of the subordinate clause, in terms of. Nominative subjects of nonfinite clauses in hibernoenglish. It can be a main clause or a subordinate clause, e. Nonfinite subordinate clauses city university of hong kong. The state of mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. There are three defined parameters on which this limitation is fixed. Clauses that contain a nonfinite verb element v are called nonfinite clauses. At the same time it provides an introduction into basic syntactic tools. A description of the differences between finite and non finite clauses in english syntax.
In this article, i will provide a contrastive analysis of the relevant aspects of the grammars of irish, standard english, and hibernoenglish, focussing first on the morphological system of casemarking, and then on the syntactic structures encountered in non finite clauses. Pdf nonfinite clauses in english nadira aljovic academia. We usually use nonfinite verbs only in subordinate clauses. Formal properties and function of nonfinite clauses in english, with some contrastive bosniancroatianmontenegrinserbian comments. We also studied the forms and functions of some finite subordinate clauses. It contains a verb that does not show tense, which means it does not. A nonfinite clause is a subordinate clause that is based on a toinfinitive or a participle. Pdf syntactic functions of finite and nonfinite clauses in. A finite verb is a verb that has a finite or limited agreement with the subject. Nonfinite constituents are often traditionally treated as. Pdf finite subordinate clauses revisited alina preda. Nonfinite clauses contain a verb which does not show tense.
Nonfinite clause a nonfinite clause is a subordinate clause that is based on a toinfinitive or a participle. Sentences and clauses that contain a finite verb element v are called finite clauses. A finite clause typically contains a verb in the present tense or past tense form. The opposite of this would be a clause that has an infinitive non finite clause.
We often use a nonfinite clause when the subject is the same as the subject in the main clause. Pdf nonfinite clauses in english properties and function. It contains a verb that does not show tense, which means it does not show the time at which something happened. A finite clause is a clause that has a verb with tense. General remarks on nonfinite and verbless clauses 25 2. Nonfinite verb phrases practice sentences 1 nonfinite verb phrases guidelines for practice sentences you may want to mark the functions with your keyboard and mouse, but of course you can print the whole file and use colored markers or devise your own marking system. Aims the aim of this book is to provide a detailed description of the structure and use of non finite clauses in english. Within it, there is a nonfinite subordinate clause to play the piano its main verb play has the toinfinitive form. We usually understand the time referred to from the context of the main clause.
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