ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Infinitive clause

paco2004 — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:12:55 GMT

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

Re: Infinitive clause

Mister Micawber — Mon, 13 Dec 2004 14:58:28 GMT

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')

Re: Infinitive clause

Jamal — Mon, 13 Dec 2004 07:26:49 GMT

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.

Re: Infinitive clause

Mister Micawber — Thu, 09 Dec 2004 14:27:50 GMT

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'.

Infinitive clause

Jamal — Thu, 09 Dec 2004 12:23:59 GMT

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.