Non-finite Verbs#
1. The Difference Between Non-finite Verbs and Finite Verbs#
Non-finite Verbs Non-finite Verbs
The rabbit eats a carrot. eats has been limited to the previous third-person singular.
I like to eat carrots.
I liked eating carrots.
I am a talking rabbit.
The rabbit likes minced carrots.
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Finite verbs are the core of a sentence, while non-finite verbs are non-core.
I am a rabbit, I eat carrots.Here appears a finite verb.
I am a rabbit, so I eat carrots. ( Conjunction )
Because I am a rabbit, I eat carrots. ( Main clause + Subordinate clause )
2. Infinitives#
to + base form of the verb
To be or not to be, that is the question. To live or to perish, that is a question.
Sometimes "to" can also be omitted, for example:
You helped me (to) cook the carrot. You helped me cook the carrot.
The "Three Major Abilities" of Finite Verbs#
- Indicate the time of the action.
- Indicate the state (aspect) of the action.
- Indicate the hypothesis, emotion, etc.
Tense (Tense) Aspect (Aspect) Mood (Mood)
Non-finite Verbs Can Serve Other Functions#
Such as: Subject, Object, Object Complement, Subject Complement (Predicative), Attribute, Adverbial...#
A verb can only serve as a core finite verb in a sentence and cannot serve as other sentence components. If it needs to serve as other sentence components, it must be converted to a non-finite verb, which can be an infinitive, past participle, present participle, or gerund. (A sentence can only have one finite verb; two tigers cannot coexist on one mountain.)
Infinitives as Subjects#
To eat a carrot every day is good for the rabbit. Eating a carrot every day is good for the rabbit.
To eat is an infinitive, not limited by person and time simply stating the concept of "eating a carrot every day."
it is + adjective + for sb. + to do sth.
It is good for the rabbit to eat a carrot every day. Eating a carrot every day is good for the rabbit.
Formal Subject Subject Clause
It is good that the rabbit eats a carrot every day. Eating a carrot every day is good for the rabbit.
Infinitives as Objects#
The rabbit likes to eat carrots. The rabbit likes to eat carrots.
To eat here serves as the object of the finite verb "like."
But some verbs cannot take an infinitive as an object.
I consider it important to eat a carrot every day. I find it important to eat a carrot every day.
When saying I consider it important, it is still unclear what is important until the following infinitive is added, revealing that the previous it represents the infinitive.
The rabbit expected the wolf to eat a carrot. The rabbit expected the wolf to eat a carrot.
Object Complement, to eat a carrot explains the action of the wolf.
Causative Verbs#
Causative verbs like see, find, watch, and have, make, let require the omission of "to" when followed by an infinitive as an object complement.
Carrots make the rabbit feel happy. Carrots make the rabbit feel happy.
In the above sentence, "to" is omitted before "feel" as an infinitive; it should be "to feel," but the finite verb is "make."
"Make" here is a causative verb, meaning "to cause" or "to let" followed by the base form of the verb.
The wolf helped the rabbit grow carrots.
The wolf helped the rabbit to grow carrots.
Omitting "to" makes little difference; both meanings are correct.
Infinitives as Subject Complements (Predicatives)#
The rabbit's dream is to eat every kind of carrot in the world. The rabbit's dream is to eat every kind of carrot in the world.
The rabbit's dream = to eat every kind of carrot in the world.
To eat every kind of carrot in the world is the rabbit's dream. The rabbit's dream is to eat every kind of carrot in the world.
Infinitives as Attributes#
The rabbit has a lot of carrots to eat. The rabbit has a lot of carrots to eat.
The infinitive serves as a post-modifier to modify "carrots," indicating that these carrots are to be eaten; they represent a verb-object relationship.
Attributes serve a modifying function; removing them does not affect the core, while object complements are the core of the sentence, and removing them makes the meaning incomplete.
Infinitives as Adverbials#
Indicating Reason#
I was surprised to get a thumbs-up. I was surprised (because) to get a thumbs-up.
This sentence is equivalent to a reason adverbial clause:
I was surprised because I got a thumbs-up. I was surprised because someone gave me a thumbs-up.
Indicating Purpose#
I will do anything to get a thumbs-up. I will do anything to get a thumbs-up.
This sentence is equivalent to a purpose adverbial clause:
I will do anything in order that I get a thumbs-up. I will do anything to get a thumbs-up.
Indicating Result#
I got enough thumbs-up to make another video. I got enough thumbs-up to make another video!
This sentence is equivalent to a result adverbial clause:
I got enough thumbs-up, so that I make another video. I got a lot of thumbs-up, so I made another video.
Advanced Infinitives#
to + base form of the verb (“state")
- "to be eating a carrot"
- "to have eaten a carrot"
- "to have been eating a carrot"
Here it expresses state, but it is still "not limited by time," for example:
The rabbit seemed to be eating a carrot. The rabbit seemed to be eating a carrot (in the process).
The rabbit will appear to have eaten a carrot. The rabbit will appear to have eaten a carrot.
I find it easy to learn English. I find it easy to learn English.
3. Gerunds#
Base form of the verb + ing
Gerunds as Subjects#
Carrots are healthy for the rabbit. Carrots are healthy for the rabbit.
Carrots is a noun serving as the subject; if we replace "Carrots" with a gerund (phrase), we can say:
Eating carrots is healthy for the rabbit. Eating carrots (this action) is healthy for the rabbit.
for the rabbit. Serves as an attribute modifying the predicative, attributes modify nouns and pronouns.
Subject Linking Verb Subject Complement (Predicative)
Eating carrots is a gerund phrase.
Gerunds as Subject Complements (Predicatives)#
The rabbit’s hobby is growing carrots. The rabbit's hobby is growing carrots.
Subject Linking Verb Subject Complement (Predicative)
Seeing is believing. Seeing is believing.
【Literal translation: Seeing (this action) is believing (this action).】
Gerunds as Attributes#
a sleeping(attribute) pill
a pill for sleeping(noun)
The rabbit likes to eat carrots. The rabbit likes to eat carrots.
【Infinitive as Object】 Likes to eat: carrots (this matter).
The rabbit lies eating carrots. The rabbit likes to eat carrots.
【Gerund as Object】 Likes: eating carrots (this food).
The rabbit enjoys to eat carrots. The rabbit likes to eat carrots.
The rabbit enjoys eating carrots. The rabbit likes to eat carrots.
Other verbs like this include: avoid, advise, consider, escape, mind, practice, etc.
Verb phrases include: insist on, give up, feel like, put off, etc.
Preposition + Object (Gerund)#
The object cannot directly use the verb (finite verb); first, convert the verb to a non-finite verb, which is (gerund).
The rabbit is fond of eating carrots. The rabbit likes to eat carrots.
The rabbit is looking forward to seeing the wolf again. The rabbit looks forward to seeing the wolf again.
In the sentence, look, forward, and to are a verb phrase, where (to) is a preposition,
not the "to" in the infinitive, followed by (seeing) gerund serving as the object.
The wolf forgot to invite the rabbit to her party. The wolf forgot to invite the rabbit to her party.
The rabbit forgot accepting the wolf's invitation. The rabbit forgot to accept the wolf's invitation.
Present Participles#
The present participle here does not indicate time; it has no relation to present time.
The present participle implies an active relationship.
a talking (present participle as attribute) rabbit. A talking rabbit.
a sleeping (gerund as attribute) pill. A sleeping pill.
a sleeping pill A sleeping pill == a pill for sleeping A sleeping pill.
a sleeping rabbit A sleeping rabbit ≠ a rabbit for sleeping (present participle)
Gerund = n. Present Participle = adj.
Present Participles as Subject Complements (Predicatives)#
Words describing people and things are mostly (actually) present participles (not all).
The rabbit is charming (adj.). The rabbit is charming.
The story is interesting (adj.) <- interest(v.). The story is interesting.
The game is exciting (adj.) <- exciting(v.). The game is exciting.
The news is encouraging (adj.) <- encourage(v.). The news is encouraging.
Present Participles as Object Complements#
The wolf saw the rabbit (object) eating (object complement (“currently")) a carrot. The wolf saw the rabbit eating a carrot.
Present participles serve as object complements.
The wolf saw the rabbit (object) eat (object complement (“entirely")) a carrot. The wolf saw the rabbit eat a carrot.
The infinitive serves as an object complement here; "saw" is the finite verb, and "eat" is the infinitive, with "to" omitted.
Present Participles as Adverbials#
Indicating time, reason, condition, result, concession, purpose, manner, and accompanying circumstances, etc.
Hearing ("time") the news, the rabbit became excited. Hearing the news, the rabbit became excited.
↓↓↓
When he heard the news, the rabbit became excited. When he heard the news, the rabbit became excited.
Not knowing ("reason") what to eat, the rabbit skipped lunch. Not knowing what to eat, the rabbit skipped lunch.
↓↓↓
Because he didn't know what to eat, the rabbit skipped lunch. Because he didn't know what to eat, the rabbit skipped lunch.
Past Participles#
"Base form of the verb" + "-ed"
Past timeThe past participle is a non-finite verb; it cannot carry time and cannot indicate past time.For example:
minced meat minced meat minced carrot minced carrot
The rabbit will eat minced carrot next week. The rabbit will eat minced carrot next week. Past minced carrot.
The minced here does not carry a time concept; it merely indicates the state of being minced. Here, minced is the past participle of mince.
Irregular verbs' past participles include:
eat = eaten
see = seen
cut = cut
grow = grown
tell = told
Minced serves as an attribute; this past participle can be viewed as an adjective.
Adjective Past Participle
a big carrot a minced carrot
A big carrot A minced carrot
a small room a painted room
A small room A painted room
a smart rabbit a excited rabbit
A smart rabbit A excited rabbit
Past Participle Phrases as Attributes#
Must be placed after the noun being modified, i.e., post-modifier.
The carrot cake eaten by the rabbit is delicious. The carrot cake eaten by the rabbit is delicious.
Past Participles as Subject Complements (Predicatives)#
The rabbit is interested in growing carrots. The rabbit is interested in growing carrots.
sb. is interested in doing sth.
Important#
Past participles imply a passive relationship, meaning they describe the receiver of the action.#
Present participles imply an active relationship, meaning they describe the doer of the action.
Mnemonic: Use "ed" for feeling (passive) and "ing" for causing (active).
The story is interesting (active). The story is interesting.
The rabbit is interesting (passive). The rabbit is interesting.
I am interested. I am interested by someone/something.
I am interesting. I interest someone.
Past Participles as Object Complements#
The rabbit found his carrot stolen. The rabbit found his carrot stolen.
Past Participles as Adverbials#
Seen from the hill, the carrot field looks beautiful. Seen from the hill, the carrot field looks beautiful. (Location)
The subject carrot field is the logical subject of seen; there is a passive relationship between them, so the past participle is used.
Born in a rabbit family, the rabbit has been growing carrots all his life. Born into a rabbit family, the rabbit has grown carrots all his life. (Reason)
Given another chance, the rabbit would go to the wolf's party. Given another chance, the rabbit would go to the wolf's party. (Time)
Advanced Usage#
The work finished, the rabbit went (finite verb) home. The work finished, the rabbit went home. (Simple sentence)
[[Absolute construction]]?
The above advanced usage allows the sentence to contain only one finite verb, with the others becoming non-finite verbs, written as a simple sentence, where the only finite verb is went, while the other verb finished appears in the form of a past participle.
The work was finished, and/so the rabbit went home. The work was finished, and the rabbit went home. (Compound sentence)
After the work was finished, the rabbit went home. After the work was finished, the rabbit went home. (Subordinate clause)
The work finished (adverbial), the rabbit went home.
The work finished, the rabbit went home.
The weather permitting (adverbial), the rabbit will go out.
The rabbit will go out if the weather permits.
Related to absolute construction
This article is updated by Mix Space to xLog. The original link is https://www.ixoxi.cn/posts/biji/fwy1