EVERYTHING (ALMOST) YOU WANTED TO KNOW (WHO WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF?), BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK. I am totally html inept, but will do my best to keep this blog supplied with plenty of syntax junk. The main aim here is to help my students (my future colleagues, in fact) come to grips with the syntax of English, even if they can't stand it.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

FINITE VS. NON-FINITE

FINITE

If a verb is finite, it has been conjugated, that is, it shows time (past, present, future) and person (1st, 2nd, 3rd, singular or plural). It is also (usually) accompanied by a subject.

e.g. THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A HUMP-BACK WHALE.
- "have never seen" – time (tense): present perfect / person: 3rd person plural
- "They" – subject

The fact that a verb is in the finite form has nothing to do with its type. That is, monotransitive, ditransitive, complex transitive, intransitive and linking verbs can all be put into the finite form.

NON-FINITE (REDUCED)

If a verb is non-finite, it is not conjugated, that is, it does NOT show time NOR person. It can only appear in one of the following four forms: infinitive, gerund (present participle), past participle or bare infinitive. It is NOT usually accompanied by a subject. Non-finite verbs are never the main verb.

e.g. WHILE SIGNING THE APPLICATION FORM, SHE REALIZED SHE HAD LEFT HER CV AT HOME.
- "realized" - time (tense): simple past; person: 3rd person singular (main verb); "she" is the subject = FINITE
- "had left" - time (tense): past perfect; person: 3rd person singular; "she" is the subject = FINITE
- "signing" – no time (tense); no person; gerund form; no subject = NON-FINITE

e.g. NOT TO SEND A REPLY WOULD BE RUDE.
- "Not to send" – no time (tense); no person; infinitive form; no subject = NON-FINITE
- "would be" - time (tense): past perfect; person: 3rd person singular (main verb); a reply is the subject = FINITE
NB: Negative infinitives should place the word "NOT" before the entire ‘to-infinitive’, and not separating the ‘to’ from the verb.

e.g. THEY MADE THE GIRL CRY.
- "made" - time (tense): simple past; person: 3rd person plural (main verb); "they" is the subject = FINITE
- "cry" - no time (tense); no person; bare infinitive form; no subject = NON-FINITE

e.g. THE COLORS MIXED WITH GLITTER SHONE BRIGHTLY.
- "shone" - time (tense): simple past; person: 3rd person plural (main verb); "the colors" is the subject = FINITE
- "mixed" - no time (tense); no person; past participle form; no subject = NON-FINITE

NB: The past participle form often has an idea of passive voice.

e.g. THE COLORS (THAT WERE) MIXED WITH GLITTER SHONE BRIGHTLY.
- "that were mixed" is the passive voice. This is an adjective clause that describes "the colors".

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you so much!! You're a genious!! I found it all what I was looking for studying for my final exam!! :)

12:17 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you so much!! You're a genious!! I found it all what I was looking for studying for my final exam!! :)

12:17 PM

 

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