0
Inchoateknowledge Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
finite non-finite
I regret having started to smoke.
Why is 'regret having started' a non-finite verb phrase.
My understanding is that when there ia a complex verb phrase, the first verb decides whether the phrase is non-finite.
'regret' shows person, I think, so it should be finite.
You have been smoking.
Why is 'have' finite if 'regret' is non-finite?
Why is 'regret having started' a non-finite verb phrase.
My understanding is that when there ia a complex verb phrase, the first verb decides whether the phrase is non-finite.
'regret' shows person, I think, so it should be finite.
You have been smoking.
Why is 'have' finite if 'regret' is non-finite?
Top answer
regret is finite. It is inflected for person, number, and tense. Compare: [I regretted / He regrets / They regret ] having started to smoke.
- regret is finite.
- It is inflected for person, number, and tense.
- Compare: [I regretted / He regrets / They regret ] having started to smoke.
- having started and to smoke are both non-finite, being a gerund and infinitive, respectively.
- ) CJ
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
regret is finite. It is inflected for person, number, and tense.
Compare:
[I regretted / He regrets / They regret ] having started to smoke.
having started and to smoke are both non-finite, being a gerund and infinitive, respectively. (Both are uninflected forms.)
CJ
Compare:
[I regretted / He regrets / They regret ] having started to smoke.
having started and to smoke are both non-finite, being a gerund and infinitive, respectively. (Both are uninflected forms.)
CJ
0
Related Questions