Non-finite Clauses and Infinitives

Overview of Non-finite Clauses

  • Focus on non-finite clauses, specifically infinitives.
  • Understanding various functions and structures of infinitive clauses.

Types of Participles

  • -ing participle:
  • Example: "The person writing the report is my colleague."
  • -ed participle:
  • Example: "The car repaired by that mechanic is mine."
  • Infinitive clause:
  • Example: "The man to help you is Mr. Smith."
  • Example: "The man (for you) to see is Mr. Johnson."

Non-finite Clauses in Postmodification

  • Infinitive clauses can postmodify nouns:
  • With Relative Pronoun as Subject:
    • "The man to help you is Mr. Smith" (equivalent to "who can help you").
  • With Relative Pronoun as Object:
    • "The man (for you) to see is Mr. Johnson" (equivalent to "who(m) you should see").
  • With Relative Pronoun as Adverbial:
    • "A time (for you) to go is July" (sets context of time).
    • "The place (for you) to stay is the university guest house" (sets context of place).
  • With Relative Pronoun as Complement:
    • "The thing (for you) to be these days is a systems analyst" (provides definition).

Formal Alternatives

  • More structured sentences may replace informal usages:
  • Example: "The time at which to go is July" (formal).
  • Incorrect use:
    • "The time which to go at is July."

Ambiguity in Interpretation

  • Ambiguous construction example:
  • "He is the best man to choose." (unclear without context).
  • Active vs. Passive Syntax:
  • Correct: "He is the best man to choose."
  • Incorrect: "He is the best man to be chosen."

Modal vs. Non-modal Meaning in To-infinitives

  • If the antecedent matches the object of the infinitive (modal interpretation):
  • Example: "The thing to do is…" (means it’s something we should do).
  • If the antecedent matches the subject of the infinitive (non-modal interpretation):
  • Example: "They were the last guests to arrive."

Non-restrictive Postmodification

  • Example sentences show how non-finite clauses can provide extra information:
  • "The substance, discovered almost by accident, has revolutionised medicine."
  • "This scholar, to be found daily in the British Museum, has devoted his life to the history of science."

Functions of To-infinitives

  1. Subject:
  • Example: "To be neutral in this conflict is out of the question."
  1. Object:
  • Example: "He likes to relax."
  1. Subject Complement:
  • Example: "The best excuse is to say that you have an examination tomorrow morning."
  1. Appositive:
  • Example: "Your ambition, to become a farmer, requires energy and perseverance."
  1. Adjectival Complement:
  • Example: "I’m very eager to meet her."

Including a Subject in the To-clause

  • Preceded by ‘for’ when there is a subject in the clause:
  • Example: "For your country to be neutral in this conflict is out of the question."
  • Use of objective case pronouns:
  • Example: "For us to take part in the discussion would be a conflict of interest."

Extraposition of Subject and Object Clauses

  • Subject Clauses:
  • Example: "It’s important (for us) to agree on our position before the meeting."
  • Object Clauses:
  • Example: "I think it wiser (for me) to leave at once."

Nominal To-infinitive Clauses

  1. Represents a proposition (possibility, proposal):
  • Example: "It’s natural for them to be together."
  • Equivalent to: "It’s natural that they should be together."
  1. Refers to actual fact:
  • Example: "It’s natural for them to be together" (suggests truth).
  1. Assumes that something is true:
  • Example: "They found him to be mentally competent to stand trial."

Bare Infinitive Clauses

  • Limited functions; often used in specific contexts:
  • As subject complement:
    • Example: "What the plan does is ensure a fair pension for all."
  • In pseudocleft sentences:
    • Example: "The best thing you can do now is write her an apology."

When to Use Infinitives vs. -ing Form

  • Remember/Forgot Example:
  • "I must remember to ask Sara if she remembers going to Paris."
  • Verbs of Preference:
  • Infinitives often indicate intention (e.g., "I didn’t like to disturb her.").
  • Use of specific verbs may change of context effectively (e.g., "I dread to think…" vs "I dread going to the hospital.").
  • Distinction in meaning when using certain verbs:
  • Begin, Stop, Cease:
  • "I stopped smoking." (no longer smokes)
  • "I stopped to smoke." (paused to smoke).

Further Reading

  • Quirk, R. et al. 2000. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman.
  • Gethin, H. 1992. Grammar in Context. Edinburgh.