linguistics Linguistics is the science, scientific study of human language. It is called a scientific study because it entails a comprehensive, systematic, objective, and precise analysis of all aspects of language, particularly its nature and structure ...

, a non-finite clause is a dependent or embedded clause that represents a state or event in the same way no matter whether it takes place before, during, or after text production. In this sense, a non-finite dependent clause represents one process as a circumstance for another without specifying the time when it takes place as in the following examples: ;Non-Finite Dependent Clauses * ''I'm going to Broadway to watch a play''. * ''I went to Broadway to watch a play''. ;Finite Dependent Clauses * ''I'm going to Broadway so I can watch a play''. * ''I went to Broadway so I could watch a play''. Similarly, a non-finite embedded clause represents a qualification for something that is being represented as in the following examples: ;Non-Finite Embedded Clauses * ''I'm on a street called Bellevue Avenue''. * ''I was on a street called Bellevue Avenue''. ;Finite Embedded Clauses * ''I'm on a street that is called Bellevue Avenue''. * ''I'm on a street that used to be called Bellevue Avenue''. * ''I was on a street that is called Bellevue Avenue''. * ''I was on a street that used to be called Bellevue Avenue''. In meaning-independent descriptions of language, a non-finite clause is a clause whose verbal chain is non-finite; for example, using Priscian's categories for Latin verb forms, in many languages we find texts with non-finite clauses containing

infinitive Infinitive (abbreviated ) is a linguistics term for certain verb forms existing in many languages, most often used as non-finite verbs. As with many linguistic concepts, there is not a single definition applicable to all languages. The word is deri ...

participle In linguistics, a participle () (from Latin ' a "sharing, partaking") is a nonfinite verb form that has some of the characteristics and functions of both verbs and adjectives. More narrowly, ''participle'' has been defined as "a word derived from ...

s and

gerund In linguistics, a gerund ( abbreviated ) is any of various nonfinite verb forms in various languages; most often, but not exclusively, one that functions as a noun. In English, it has the properties of both verb and noun, such as being modifiab ...

s. In such accounts, a non-finite clause usually serves a grammatical role – commonly that of a

noun A noun () is a word that generally functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.Example nouns for: * Living creatures (including people, alive, ...

adjective In linguistics, an adjective (abbreviated ) is a word that generally modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes its referent. Its semantic role is to change information given by the noun. Traditionally, adjectives were considered one of the ma ...

, or

adverb An adverb is a word or an expression that generally modifies a verb, adjective, another adverb, determiner, clause, preposition, or sentence. Adverbs typically express manner, place, time, frequency, degree, level of certainty, etc., answering ...

– in a greater clause that contains it.

Structure

A typical finite clause consists of a finite form of the verb together with its

object Object may refer to: General meanings * Object (philosophy), a thing, being, or concept ** Object (abstract), an object which does not exist at any particular time or place ** Physical object, an identifiable collection of matter * Goal, an ...

s and other dependents (i.e. a

verb phrase In linguistics, a verb phrase (VP) is a syntactic unit composed of a verb and its arguments except the subject of an independent clause or coordinate clause. Thus, in the sentence ''A fat man quickly put the money into the box'', the words ''q ...

predicate Predicate or predication may refer to: * Predicate (grammar), in linguistics * Predication (philosophy) * several closely related uses in mathematics and formal logic: **Predicate (mathematical logic) **Propositional function **Finitary relation, o ...

), 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

gerundive In Latin grammar, a gerundive () is a verb form that functions as a verbal adjective. In Classical Latin, the gerundive is distinct in form and function from the gerund and the present active participle. In Late Latin, the differences were large ...

), 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 An independent clause (or main clause) is a clause that can stand by itself as a ''simple sentence''. An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate and makes sense by itself. Independent clauses can be joined by using a semicolon or ...

) *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 In linguistics, periphrasis () is the use of one or more function words to express meaning that otherwise may be expressed by attaching an affix or clitic to a word. The resulting phrase includes two or more collocated words instead of one in ...

expression of the subject) *Playing on computers, they whiled the day away. (a participial clause, using a

present participle In linguistics, a participle () (from Latin ' a "sharing, partaking") is a nonfinite verb form that has some of the characteristics and functions of both verbs and adjectives. More narrowly, ''participle'' has been defined as "a word derived from ...

) *With 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

-participial clause) *… he be playing on computers all the time. (a

-participial subjunctive clause) Some types of non-finite clause have

zero 0 (zero) is a number representing an empty quantity. In place-value notation such as the Hindu–Arabic numeral system, 0 also serves as a placeholder numerical digit, which works by multiplying digits to the left of 0 by the radix, usual ...

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. 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) For more examples of such constructions in English, see

English passive voice The passive voice in English is a grammatical voice whose syntax is marked by a subject followed by a stative verb complemented by a past participle. For example: :The enemy was defeated. :Caesar was stabbed. In each instance of a passive voic ...

and .

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 In linguistics, the grammar of a natural language is its set of structural constraints on speakers' or writers' composition of clauses, phrases, and words. The term can also refer to the study of such constraints, a field that includes domain ...

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

) *We went there to collect our computers. (infinitival clause used as an

adverbial In English grammar, an adverbial ( abbreviated ) is a word (an adverb) or a group of words (an adverbial clause or adverbial phrase) that modifies or more closely defines the sentence or the verb. (The word ''adverbial'' itself is also used as an ...

of purpose) *They were sitting quietly. (participial clause used as verb complement to express

progressive aspect The continuous and progressive aspects ( abbreviated and ) are grammatical aspects that express incomplete action ("to do") or state ("to be") in progress at a specific time: they are non-habitual, imperfective aspects. In the grammars of many ...

) *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 In English grammar, a nominative absolute is a free-standing ( absolute) part of a sentence that describes the main subject and verb. It consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case joined with a predicate that does ...

) *I like rescuing wasps. (gerund-participial clause used as a noun phrase) *'' Carthago delenda est'' ("Carthage must be destroyed"; Latin

used as a predicative expression)

Different traditions

According to Priscian, ''delenda'' is a participle because it agrees in number, case, and gender with a noun, namely ''Carthago'', the subject. In Priscian's theory of POS, words are classified according to the inflectional paradigms that are created independent of the grammatical context the word is in. A misapplication of Priscian's verb categories for the modern notion of non-finite clause might thus result on the recognition of clauses where there are none. In linguistics, both Generative Theory and Systemic Functional Theory of Language do not support analyses of '' Carthago delenda est'' in the way it is proposed above. For instance, the French active non-finite verbs ''sorti(e)'' and ''entré(e)'' as in ''il est sorti/entré'' and ''elle est sortie/entrée'' agree in number and gender with the subject in the same way as ''delenda'' does, but these words are not considered a non-finite sentence in Generative Theory nor a non-finite clause in Systemic Functional Theory on their own. In the example ''Carthago delenda est''/''Carthago must be destroyed'', the verb ''est'' is a modal voice auxiliary because it functions both as modal and as voice. A syntactic tree for the clause ''Carthago must be destroyed'' is shown below: For more details of the use of such clauses in English, see , and

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Non-Finite Clause Clauses Grammatical construction types

Structure

Use

Different traditions

See also

References