Non-finite and finite clauses

Question

Hey guys. How are you doing?I'd like you to check these sentences and help me identify it:I don’t enjoy playing tennis in the rain.I’d hate to travel to London every day.What are the non-finite and finite verbs and the non-finite clauses and finite clauses?I'm confused for non-finite verbs are normally the verbs inflected by the previous verb, so are "hate" and "enjoy" also non-finite verbs? I'm confused.

Persian Learner · Accepted Answer

Hi.

davyddinizWhat are the non-finite and finite verbs and the non-finite clauses and finite clauses?

Every clause has just one tense verb.

For example:

He wants to learn English.

He wanted to learn English.

As you see, we change the time of the sentence just by changing the tense of the main verb (finite verb). And the underlined part is generally called a verbal-- it behaves to some degree like a verb but it can't change the time of the sentence.

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Every finite clause must have a subject and a tense verb, but a non-finite clause doesn't have a tense verb, but a verbal. By 'verbal' I mean 'gerund','infinitive', 'present participle', and 'past participle'. Bear in mind that verbals can't function as a tense verb.

For example:

After I finished the work, I left the workshop.

The underlined part in the above sentence is a finite clause, and the red part is the tense verb.

Now, let's change it to a not-finite clause:

2) After finishing the work, I left the workshop.

The underlined part in the above sentence is a non-finite clause. The part in red is a verbal-- gerund.

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davyddinizI don’t enjoy playing tennis in the rain.

The underlined part is a non-finite clause made by a gerund. It functions as the object of the finite (tense) verb 'enjoy'.

davyddinizI’d hate to travel to London every day.

The underlined part is a non-finite clause made by a to-infinitive. It functions as the object of the finite (tense) verb 'hate'.

davyddinizI'm confused for non-finite verbs are normally the verbs inflected by the previous verb, so are "hate" and "enjoy" also non-finite verbs? I'm confused.

You just need to distinguish verbals from tense verbs.

Non-finite and finite clauses

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