Infinitive clause

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Jamal

#60405 Thu, 09 Dec 04 12:23 PM

I have read some books introducing the following sentences as infinitive clause.

You must book early [to secure a seat]

As far as my understanding, a clause contains a finite verb(verbs showing tense, person or singular \ plural. not a non-finite verb(verbs having no tense, person or singular \ plural as infinitive, participles, gerund)
The sentence is:

Am I wrong in understanding clauses or is there something advance I have not been able to cover.

Jamal

Joined on Thu, Dec 9 2004

Afghanistan

New Member (04)

Verbs, Plurals, Tenses, Clauses, Gerunds, Infinitive clauses

Mister Micawber

#60433 Thu, 09 Dec 04 02:27 PM

Hi Jamal,

There are three main types of clauses: finite, nonfinite, and verbless.

Finite: 'I'm hungry, so I think I'll make a sandwich'.

Nonfinite: 'Being hungry, I made a sandwich'; 'My hunger caused me to make a sandwich'; 'Ravaged by hunger, I made a sandwich'.

Verbless: 'Although not very hungry, I made a sandwich'.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (21,223)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Clauses

Jamal

#61112 Mon, 13 Dec 04 07:26 AM

Dear;

Thank you very much for the reply and your time.

With non-finite clause, 'Being hungry, I made a sandwich' we know the subject is common in both( I ) for dependent(participle clause and main clause.

But what about 'My hunger caused me to make a sandwich'. I think ( to make a sandwich should be infinitive phrase not clause as verb and subject are missing.

I appreciate if you tell me more about the infinitive one.

Jamal

Verbs, Clauses

Mister Micawber

#61167 Mon, 13 Dec 04 02:58 PM

Well, it is all in the terminology, Jamal, but Greenbaum & Quirk distinguish four classes of nonfinite clauses-- based on the four classes of verb phrases: (1) to-infinitive, (2) bare infinitive, (3) -ing participle, and (4) -ed participle:

(1) The best thing would be to tell everybody. (verb phrase: 'to tell')
(2) All I did was hit him on the head. (verb phrase: 'hit')
(3) Her aunt having left the room, he apologized for her actions. (verb phrase: 'having left')
(4) Covered with confusion, they apologized. (verb phrase: 'covered')

Mister Micawber

Verbs, Clauses

paco2004

#61280 Tue, 14 Dec 04 12:12 AM

Jamal

I'd like to add something I know about your question.

Some linguists would analyze the syntax of your sentence the way as this;
My hunger caused something (=a clause or noun phrase).
My hunger caused [me to make a sandwich]. (an infinitive clause)
= My hunger caused [(the fact) that I made a sandwich]. (a finite clause)

paco

paco2004

Joined on Wed, Nov 17 2004

Senior Member (4,095)

In Japan today even dogs are learning how to bow-wow in English.

Clauses, Nouns, Noun phrases, Infinitive clauses