lauses: Finite and nonfinite

clauses
This unit
See also
Look at each of these examples. Do they have present tense or past tense? Can
we change the tense?

 She feels sick.

 I was watching TV.

In the first example, we have the present tense verb form feels. We could change to
past tense: She felt sick.

In the second example, the verb phrase was watching contains the past tense
form was. We could change to the present tense: I am watching TV.

These are called finite clauses because they contain finite verbs: verbs in the
present tense or past tense form.

Our examples of finite clauses so far are main clauses: She feels sick and I was
watching TV stand alone as complete sentences. Subordinate clauses, which
form part of a larger sentence, can also be finite:

 I know that she feels sick.

 While I was watching TV, the phone rang.

Compare the examples above with those below which are nonfinite clauses
(highlighted). Can you see a difference in the verb phrases?

 She doesn’t want to feel sick.

 Watching TV, I dozed off.

The highlighted clauses do not contain any tensed verb forms. Nonfinite clauses are
usually subordinate clauses, as in these examples: to feel sick and watching
TV could not stand alone as sentences.

Nonfinite clauses tend to express less information than matching finite clauses. Take
this example:

 I am happy to see you.

We have here the nonfinite clause to see you. Think about this clause on its own.
Does it tell us when the seeing happened? Or who is doing the seeing?
  No, it doesn’t tell us whether the seeing is present or past (unlike the finite
clauses I see you, I saw you). We can only work out the time from the main
clause verb (am).
 No, it doesn’t say who is doing the seeing: there is no Subject expressed in
this clause. We have to work out from the main clause that it is ‘I’ (the
speaker) doing the seeing. (If we had He is happy to see you, it would
be ‘he’ doing the seeing.)

It is very common for nonfinite clauses to have no Subject. However, some do have
a Subject. For example, in I am happy for you to start without me, you is the
Subject of the nonfinite subordinate clause.

There are three main types of nonfinite clause, corresponding to the three types of
nonfinite verb. Let’s look at an example of each type.

 I’d always wanted to go to Australia. [S1A-050 #5]

This is a to-infinitive clause, with to followed by the infinitive verb form go.

 Arriving just before lunch, I looked for Harry Frampton in the dining
room. [W2B-004 #67]

This is an -ing participle clause (also called present participle clause), with the -
ing participle verb form arriving.

 They’ve never improved on the distance covered on that first

expedition. [S2B-024 #30]

This is an -ed participle clause (also called past participle clause), with the -
ed participle verb form covered.

To-infinitive clauses are easy to recognise because they have an infinitive verb form
following to. Can you identify the to-infinitive clauses in these examples?

 It only took us about twenty minutes to get here. [S1A-019 #144]

 It only took us about twenty minutes to get here.
 I’d be quite keen to try anything like that. [S1A-035 #57]
 I’d be quite keen to try anything like that.
 Does anyone else want to be nominated? [S1B-079 #50]
 Does anyone else want to be nominated?
 To reach it on foot, you must navigate hundreds of miles across a
perishing sub-zero landscape. [S2B-024 #3]
 To reach it on foot, you must navigate hundreds of miles across a
perishing sub-zero landscape.

It is easy to recognise -ing participle verb forms, as they always end in -ing.

They can occur in finite clauses after a tensed verb: He is/was eating his dinner.
However, in -ing participle clauses, which are nonfinite, there is no tensed verb
before the participle:

 Eating his dinner, he leafed through a magazine.

Can you identify the -ing participle clauses in these examples?

 Thank you for your letter enquiring about vacancies at the Museum
shop. [W1B-016 #71]
 Thank you for your letter enquiring about vacancies at the Museum
shop.
 I remember being 3-2 down to Liverpool in the semi-final. [W2C-014 #24]
 I remember being 3-2 down to Liverpool in the semi-final.
 I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the floor. [W1B-004 #53]
 I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the floor.
 Overtaking a moving vehicle is more dangerous. [S2A-054 #214]
 Overtaking a moving vehicle is more dangerous.

To recognise -ed participle clauses, we need to remember that an -ed participle form
does not always end in -ed. This is because some verbs are irregular. Examples of
irregular -ed participles occur in the following:

 He has taken it. It was taken.

 He has sold it. It was sold.

In each of those examples the -ed participle occurs in a finite clause, after a tensed
verb.

But in -ed participle clauses, which are nonfinite, there is no tensed verb before the -
ed participle. Here is an example:

 Taken three times a day, these pills should clear the rash.

Now see if you can identify the -ed participle clauses in these examples:

 This is a diagram of the respiratory system taken from front to

back. [S2A-035 #53]
 This is a diagram of the respiratory system taken from front to back.
 Compared with London, travel around Brussels is so amazingly
hassle-free. [W1B-002 #67]
 Compared with London, travel around Brussels is so amazingly
hassle-free.
 The evidence given to Cullen was monitored closely. [W2C-007 #122]
 The evidence given to Cullen was monitored closely.
 First across the line was East Germany in 1969, followed by West
Germany in 1972. [W2B-018 #36]
  First across the line was East Germany in 1969, followed by West
Germany in 1972.

Key points

A finite clause typically contains a verb in the present tense or past tense form. It
can be a main clause or a subordinate clause, e.g.:

 Kate broke the dish. (main clause)

 They suspect that Kate broke the dish. (subordinate clause)

A nonfinite clause does not contain any present or past tense verb. It is usually a
subordinate clause. There are three main types:

 Kate didn't mean to break the dish. (to-infinitive clause)

 Kate remembers breaking the dish. (-ing participle clause)
 They will replace the dish broken by Kate. (-ed participle clause)

Finite clause
A finite clause is a main clause or a subordinate clause that must have a verb to show tense.
The verb can be in the present tense or past tense. The tense can be changed from the
present tense to the past tense or past tense to the present tense. Because the verb in the
present tense or past tense is called a finite verb, the clause that contains a finite verb is
called a finite clause.

Examples:

o The fishermen are mending their nets.

(Present tense is used in the finite/main clause.)
o We dined at a cheap restaurant last night.
(Past tense used in the finite/main clause.)
o We were not allowed in because we arrived late.
(Past tense is used in the main clause [finite clause] we were not allowed in and in the
subordinate clause [finite clause] because we arrived late.)

Non-finite clause
A non-finite clause is a subordinate clause that is based on a to-infinitive or a participle. It
contains a verb that does not show tense, which means it does not show the time at which
something happened. There are three types of nonfinite clauses.

a) To-infinitive clause
In this clause, the verb comes after the word to.

Examples:

o He gave up his job to travel the world.

o We wanted to ask her to come along.
o The person to make the report to at the police station was the Sergeant.

Find out the finite and non-finite verbs in the sentences given below:

1. He gave me a chair to sit.

2. It was a sight to see.

3. I want to buy some clothes.

4. Barking dogs seldom bite.

5. He is about to leave.

6. It is time to start.

7. He was wearing a torn shirt.

8. He had his shoes polished.

9. They got the roof repaired.

10. Finding the door open I went inside.

Answers :
1. Finite – gave; non-finite – to sit

2. Finite – was; non-finite – to see

3. Finite – want; non-finite – to buy

4. Finite – bite; non-finite – barking

5. Finite – is; non-finite – to leave

6. Finite – is; non-finite – to start

7. Finite – was wearing; non-finite – torn

8. Finite – had; non-finite – polished

9. Finite – got; non-finite – repaired

10. Finite – went; non-finite – finding

Riana ____ the phone last week.

A. To lose

B. Losing

C. Lost

D. Have lost

E. Have been losing

Answer: B.

2. I don't mean ____ you.

A. Hurt

B. Was hurting
C. Is hurt

D. To hurt

E. Have hurt

Answer: D.

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Choose the right answer.

1. Nancy does her homework every day (does is a finite verb)

2. Nancy is doing her homework at the moment (doing is a finite verb)
3. They are writing a letter. (are is a finite verb)
4. She speaks Chinese very well (speaks is a finite verb) .
5. He has a big car. (has is a finite verb)
6. The proposal has been examined today. (been is a finite verb)
7. She tried to help him. (__)
8. It is healthy to laugh at problems. (to laugh is a non-finite verb)
9. Finding the gates widely open, the thief went inside (Finding is a finite verb)
10. He had his car cleaned. (cleaned is a non-finite verb)

Mari kita lihat beberapa contoh berikut ini, kata yang dicetak tebal adalah finite verb,
sementara non-finite verb adalah kata dengan tanda garis bawah.

 I want her to do this job. (Aku menginginkan dia yang melakukan pekerjaan ini.)
 She is currently working as a teacher. (Dia bekerja sebagai seorang guru.)
 Delivering a pizza is a simple job. (Mengantarkan pizza adalah pekerjaan
sederhana.)
 The jumping students made me crazy. (Para siswa yang lompat-lompat
membuatku gila.)
 We will surprise Jane tonight. Today is her birthday! (Kita akan memberi Jane
kejutan. Hari ini adalah hari ulang tahunnya!)
 This phone should be repaired. I can’t receive calls! (Telepon ini harus diperbaiki.
Saya nggak bisa terima panggilan telepon!.)


In each of the following sentences, decide whether the bracketed

clauses are finite or nonfinite.
 1. [Everybody left just after the
Finite
ceremony]
Nonfinite

2. [Inviting your sister] was not a

Finite
great decision
Nonfinite

3. I'll be home around ten [if my

Finite
train is on time]
Nonfinite

4. [They expect Susan to do all

Finite
the work]
Nonfinite

5. [Deprived of oxygen], plants

Finite
will quickly die
Nonfinite

Contoh Soal Beserta Jawaban Noun Clause

1. Please tell me . . . Makes you cry

a. if
b. what
c. whether
d. how
2. I do not know . . . He has no parents
a. that
b. why
c. what
d. when
3. She is the person . . . I met in front of the school
a. whom
b. who
c. that
d. if
4. I’m not sure . . . He go to work or not today
a. if
b. whether
c. does
d. had
5. Please tell me . . . Do you want
a. what
b. if
c. when
d. why
6. . . . I do is to make you happy
a. When
b. How
c. What
d. Where
7. I do not know . . . He’s married or not
a. whether
b. has
c. have
d. if
8. Can you tell me . . . The accident happened
a. what
b. if
c. whether
d. when
9. Please explain me . . . To make a jar
a. what
b. can
c. have
d. how
10. I do not know . . . You are
a. when
b. where
c. was
d. if
11. I regret . . . I did not accept your offer
a. that
b. where
c. why
d. when
12. Do not ask me . . . I can not forgive her
a. why
b. who
c. why
d. how
13. I realized . . . I was not a rich man
a. that
b. then
c. when
d. where
14. I’ll wake you up . . . The movie starts
a. that
b. then
 c. when
d. where
15. I really hope . . . You can attend our new home thanksgiving ceremony
a. that
b. then
c. when
d. where
16. . . . You hear is not true
a. If
b. What
c. Whether
d. Does
17. . . . I do is not your business
a. If
b. What
c. Whether
d. Does
18. . . . Rifky did was very amazing
a. Who
b. Whom
c. Why
d. That
19. . . . Rina told us earlier was not a lie
a. That
b. If
c. What
d. How
20. I promise . . . I will take care of you
a. whether
b. why
c. what
d. that

PEMBAHASAN

1. Answer : What (b), noun clause sebagai object transitive.

Arti : (Tolong katakan padaku apa yang membuatmu menangis)
2. Answer : That (a), noun clause sebagai object transitive.
Arti : (Saya tidak tahu jika dia tidak mempunyai orang tua)
3. Answer : Whom (a), noun clause sebagai object transitive.
Arti : (Dia adalah orang yang saya temui di depan kelas)
4. Answer : Whether (b), noun clause sebagai object transitive.
Arti : (Saya tidak yakin apakah dia pergi bekerja atau tidak hari ini)
5. Answer : What (a), noun clause sebagai pelengkap.
Arti : (Tolong katakan padaku apa yang kamu inginkan)
6. Answer : What (c), noun clause sebagai subject.
Arti : (Apa yang saya lakukan adalah untuk membuatmu bahagia)
7. Answer : If (d), noun clause sebagai object transitive.
Arti : (Saya tidak tahu apakah dia sudah menikah atau belum)
8. Answer : When (d), noun clause sebagai object preposition.
Arti : (Dapatkah anda memberitahu saya kapan kecelakaan itu terjadi)
9. Answer : How (d), noun clause sebagai object preposition.
Arti : (Tolong jelaskan padaku bagaimana cara membuat sebuah guci)
10. Answer : Where (b), noun clause sebagai object presposition.
Arti : (Saya tidak tahu dimana anda berada)
11. Answer : Why (c), noun clause sebagai object preposition.
Arti : (Saya menyesal mengapa dulu saya tidak menerima tawaran yang anda berikan)
12. Answer : Why (c), noun clause sebagai object preposition.
Arti : (Jangan tanya kenapa aku tidak bisa memaafkannya)
13. Answer : That (a), noun clause sebagai object transitive.
Arti : (Saya menyadari bahwa saya bukanlah orang kaya)
14. Answer : When (c), noun clause sebagai pelengkap.
Arti : (Saya akan membangunkanmu ketika film itu sudah dimulai)
15. Answer : That (a), noun clause sebagai pelengkap.
Arti : (Saya sangat mengharapkan anda dapat menghadiri acara syukuran rumah baru kami)
16. Answer : What (b), noun clause sebagai subject.
Arti : (Apa yang anda dengar itu sesungguhnya tidak benar)
17. Answer : What (b), noun clause sebagai subject.
Arti : (Apa yang saya lakukan bukanlah urusanmu)
18. Answer : That (d), noun clause sebagai subject.
Arti : (Yang rifky lakukan tadi sangatlah sangat mengagumkan)
19. Answer : That (a), noun clause sebagai subject.
Arti : (Yang rina beritahukan tadi bukanlah sebuah kebohongan)
20. Answer : That (d), noun clause sebagai pelengkap.
Arti : (Aku berjanji bahwa aku akan menjagamu)

21. A finite clause includes a primary verb — a verb that can be inflected for tense, person
and sometimes number — and includes a subject. A finite clause is an independent
clause, which can serve as a stand-alone clause (sentence), a coordinate clause,
a subordinate clause, or
a supplementary clause.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Charlie raises his hand constantly.

This is called the "main clause" or "matrix clause".

COORDINATE TO MAIN CLAUSE

He raises his hand constantly and¹ [he talks in class.]

Brackets enclose a coordinate finite clause.

SUBORDINATE TO MAIN CLAUSE—AFTER "THAT"

We know that² [Charlie raises his hand constantly]].
Charlie raised his hand so that [he could ask a question].
Charlie's curiosity is due to the fact that [he asks so many questions].
Brackets enclose a subordinate finite clause.

SUBORDINATE TO MAIN CLAUSE—WTIH CONNECTIVE PREP

Other children are annoyed because³ [Charlie raises his hand constantly].
The teacher ignores Charlie if³ [he waves his hand wildly].
Brackets enclose a subordinate finite clause.

SUBORDINATE TO MAIN CLAUSE—WITH RELATIVE PRONOUN

A boy [who raises his hand constantly] wants to be the center of attention.
Brackets enclose a subordinate finite clause. (relative clause)

SUPPLEMENTARY CLAUSE [AN ADD ON]

Charlie likes the teacher's attention, so [he raises his hand constantly.]
Brackets enclose a supplementary finite clause.

NONFINITE CLAUSES

A nonfinite clause includes a secondary verb — a verb not inflected for tense, person or
number (e.g., infinitival, gerundial or past participial verb form) — and occasionally a subject
(e.g., his, him for). A nonfinite clause is a dependent clause, which can serve as a subject, a
verbal complement, a prepositional complemment, or a noun complement.
SUBJECT

To [speak in class] is encouraged.

[Speaking in class] is encouraged.
For him to [speak in class] requires self-confidence. (w/subject)

VERBAL COMPLEMENT

He loves to [participate].
He dislikes [sitting quietly].
The teacher encourages his [participating in discussions]. (w/subject)

PREPOSITIONAL COMPLEMENT

Charlie smiled after [answering the question].

Charlie is used to [answering questions].
Charlie is interested in [hearing the answers].
 NOUN COMPLEMENT

[Prepared] students excel in class. (pre-position modifier)

Students [encouraged by their teachers] do well. (post-position modifier)

Finite clause
A finite clause is a main clause or a subordinate clause that must have a verb to show tense.
The verb can be in the present tense or past tense. The tense can be changed from the
present tense to the past tense or past tense to the present tense. Because the verb in the
present tense or past tense is called a finite verb, the clause that contains a finite verb is
called a finite clause.

Examples:

o The fishermen are mending their nets.

(Present tense is used in the finite/main clause.)
o We dined at a cheap restaurant last night.
(Past tense used in the finite/main clause.)
o We were not allowed in because we arrived late.
(Past tense is used in the main clause [finite clause] we were not allowed in and in the
subordinate clause [finite clause] because we arrived late.)

Non-finite clause
A non-finite clause is a subordinate clause that is based on a to-infinitive or a participle. It
contains a verb that does not show tense, which means it does not show the time at which
something happened. There are three types of nonfinite clauses.

a) To-infinitive clause
In this clause, the verb comes after the word to.

Examples:

o He gave up his job to travel the world.

o We wanted to ask her to come along.
o The person to make the report to at the police station was the Sergeant.
 b) Present participle clause (or –ing clause)
In this clause, the verb ending in – ing is used.

Examples:

o He is a thoroughly spoilt child being the only one in the family.

o You are the only one capable of solving the problem.
o Before becoming a bank robber, he was a police officer.
o Seeing no employment prospect, he became self-employed.

c) Past participle clause

In this clause, the past participle form of the verb is used.

Examples:

o Trained as an acrobat since young, she has amazed audiences with her superb skills.
o All the children, gathered in that group, were ready to perform a traditional dance.
o A woman recognized as one of the hostages was found unharmed in the building.
o The child intends to be a bank robber when asked what he would like to be.

A subordinate conjunction is often used to begin a non-finite clause. The subordinate

conjunctions used here are if, unless, though.
Examples:

o Her appointment, if approved, will make her the company’s first female General
Manager.
o The police, unless notified, will not carry out an investigation.
o The rescuers found the boy, though injured, fully conscious.

 Q.
Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
to eat
eat
am eating
eats
 Question 2
30 seconds
Q.
 Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
laughter
to laugh
is laughing
laughs
 Question 3
30 seconds
Q.
Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
jumps
am jumping
are jumping
to jump
 Question 4
30 seconds
Q.
Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
to climb
climbs
am climbed
climbed
 Question 5
30 seconds
Q.
Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
have eaten
was eating
am eating
eating
 Question 6
30 seconds
Q.
Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
laughs
laughed
laughing
were laughing
 Question 7
30 seconds
Q.
Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
will have been climbing
am climbing
climbing
climbs
 Question 8
 30 seconds
Q.
Which of these is a non-finite verb?
answer choices
jumping
jumped
am jumping
have jumped
 Question 9
30 seconds
Q.
Which of these are non-finite verbs?
answer choices
eating, to eat
is eating, eats
was eating, ate
had been eating, will be eating
 Question 10
30 seconds
Q.
Non-finite verbs are ...
answer choices
verbs that can have a subject
verbs that show actions, with different tenses (present, past, future)
verbs with TO in front; lonely -ING verbs (without another verb in front)
verbs that show states of being (like 'is', 'was', 'were'
 Question 11
30 seconds
Q.
My little brother 'wants' to be an actor.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 12
30 seconds
Q.
She worked hard 'to pass' the test.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 13
30 seconds
Q.
I 'couldn’t solve' the problem.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 14
30 seconds
Q.
'To err' is human.
answer choices
 finite
non-finite
 Question 15
30 seconds
Q.
Your duty is 'to cross' the river without getting noticed.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 16
30 seconds
Q.
The doctor 'is attending' to the injured people.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 17
30 seconds
Q.
She 'opened' the door.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 18
30 seconds
Q.
The students were asked 'to submit' their assignments by Friday.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 19
30 seconds
Q.
The teacher 'encouraged' the students to work hard.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 20
30 seconds
Q.
The dog 'wagged' its tail to show its happiness.
answer choices
finite
non-finite
 Question 21
30 seconds
Q.
Which word is finite verb?
'We saw a clown standing on his head trying to do a daring stunt.'
answer choices
saw
 standing
trying
do
daring
 Question 22
30 seconds
Q.
Which word is finite verb?
"The trumpets sounded and the judge gave the knights the signal to begin."
answer choices
sounded
gave
signal
begin
sounded / gave
 Question 23
30 seconds
Q.
Which word is finite verb?
"Nobody could enter the burning house to douse the raging fire..."
answer choices
enter
could enter
burning
douse
raging
 Question 24
30 seconds
Q.
Which word is finite verb?
"They stood up to salute the unfurling National flag."
answer choices
salute
unfurling
stood
stood / unfurling
stood / salute
 Question 25
30 seconds
Q.
Which word is non-finite verb?
"The broken mirror reflected the images in a distorted manner."
answer choices
broken
reflected
distorted
broken / reflected
broken / distorted