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Eddie88 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Non-finite clauses

Sentence Examples

For me to go to London would be an interesting experience.

To put a spider on my desk is a mean thing to do.

Questions

In formal writing, is it ever permissible to have a non-finite clause such as these?

I also don't understand why a non-finite clause can be called a 'clause' when they sometimes don't have a subject (and no finite verb)... Why can they have no subject? How are these different from phrases?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

In formal writing, is it ever permissible to have a non-finite clause such as these? Yes, of course. Formal writing is full of non-finite clauses.

— CalifJim

  • In formal writing, is it ever permissible to have a non-finite clause such as these?
  • Yes, of course.
  • Formal writing is full of non-finite clauses.
  • I also don't understand why a non-finite clause can be called a 'clause' when they sometimes don't have a subject The verb is usually the most important part.
  • The subject is usually implied by the rest of the sentence or by the larger context.
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5 Answers
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In formal writing, is it ever permissible to have a non-finite clause such as these?
Yes, of course. Formal writing is full of non-finite clauses.
I also don't understand why a non-finite clause can be called a 'clause' when they sometimes don't have a subject
The verb is usually the most important part. The subject is usually implied by the rest
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Hi,

what I mean is, can it stand as a sentence on its own?

Or is it a dependent clause and a finite clause is a indepndent clause?

Thanks.
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can it stand as a sentence on its own?
No. Non-finite clauses can't stand alone as independent clauses.
Haven't we been through this before?
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Yes, I was just confirming it as your answer sort of made me think otherwise.

Cheers
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Eddie88made me think otherwise
Ah. Probably because I snipped out a piece of each sentence and did the analysis of it separately from the whole sentence.
CJ
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