NON-FENITE AND FENITE CLAUCE

CHAPTER I:
NON- FINITE & VERBLESS CLAUSES

I. NON-FINITE CLAUSES :
None – finite clauses are clauses whose verb element is a non-finite verb phrase,
i.e. consists of non-finite elements such as an –ING participle (a), an –ED participle
(b), or an infinitive (c and d). Non- finite clauses can be constructed with or without
a subject.
(a) –ING participle clauses:
Without a subject: Feeling rather tired, I telephoned and said I couldn’t come.
With a subject: All the money having been spent, we started looking for work.
(b) –ED participle clauses:
Without a subject: Covered with confusion, she hurriedly left the room.
With a subject: The job finished, we went home straight away.
(c) TO- infinitive clauses:
Without a subject: The best thing would be to tell everybody.
With a subject: The best thing would be for you to tell everybody.
(The subject of an infinitive clause is often introduced by FOR.)
(d) Bare infinitive:
Without a subject: All I did was tell her the truth.
With a subject: Rather than John do it, I’d prefer to do the job myself.

II- VERBLESS CLAUSES
Verbless clauses are clauses which contain no verb element, and often also no subject.
They are regarded as clauses because they function in ways, which make them equivalent to finite and non- finite clauses, and because they can be analyzed in ter
of one or more clause elements. We can usually assume that a form of the verb BE
been omitted:
Ex : Dozens of tourists were stranded, many of them children.
(= many of tourists were children)

A sleeping bag under each arm, Mr. Johnson tramped off on his vacation.
(= There was a sleeping bag under each of his arms)

The subject, when omitted, can usually be understood as equivalent to the subject of
main clause:

The oranges, when ripe, are picked and sorted. (= when they are ripe)
Whether right or wrong, Michael always comes off worst in an argument.
(= Whether he is right or wrong…)

An adjective (or adjective phrase) can function as a verbless clause:

By then nervous, the man opened the letter.
The man, by then nervous, opened the letter.
Long and untidy, his hair waved in the breeze.
An adverb may sometimes replace an adjective functioning as a verbless clause with
little difference in meaning:
Nervously/ Nervous, the man opened the letter.

III- OMISSION IN NON – FINITE AND VERBLESS CLAUSES
Non- finite and verbless clauses are mostly used in formal or written styles of
English because they are more economical and avoid repetition in comparison with
finite subclauses.
*TO- infinitive clauses: I hope to be present. (= I hope that I shall be present.)
*-ING clauses: Living in the country, we had few social visits.
( = Since we lived in the country …)
*-ED clauses: The man injured by the bullet was taken to the hospital.
(= The man who was injured by the bullet …)
Though defeated, he remained a popular leader.
(with subordinator ‘though’)
(= Though he had been defeated …)
• Verbless clauses:
A man of few words, Uncle George declined to express an opinion.
(= As he was a man of few words …)


EXERCISES

NON- FINITE AND VERBLESS CLAUSES

I/ Underline and classify the function of the non- finite and verbless clauses in the
following sentences:
1. My favourite thing to do is collecting actors’ photographs.
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2. You must learn to work hard and to deal with difficulties.
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3. She sang when allowed to do so.
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4. The long journey over, we relaxed in the warm sunshine.
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5. He was a delightful companion, always cheerful and considerate.
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6. Having been invited to speak, and then being told to keep silent, I shall never
come here again as long as I live.
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7. Since I have been especially invited to speak, for you now to tell me I can not do
so is quite unpardonable.
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8. Standing here all day, I see many strange faces.
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9. Standing here all day is extremely tiring.
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10. My greatest pleasure is to listen to chamber music.
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11. To listen to chamber music is my greatest pleasure.
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12. To speak in public for the first time can be a terrifying experience.
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