Participle phrase & infinitive phrase

From A+ Club Lesson Planner & Study Guide

Terminology[edit | edit source]

  • clause
    • a part of a sentence that contains a finite verb (a verb that has a subject)
  • complement
    • a word, phrase, or dependent clause that adds information to a subject or verb (as part of the predicate)
  • finite verb
    • a verb that has a subject
    • it is "finite" because it is "bound to" or associated with a subject
  • infinitive
    • the "to" form of a verb
      • ex. to be, to play, to believe
      • infinitives can act as a noun, adjective, or adverb
  • non-finitive verb
    • a verb that does not have a subject
    • and it therefore does not act as a verb, and instead acts as a noun (called "gerund"), adjective, or adverb
      • non-finite verbs are either participles or infinitives
        • (note: not all participles are non-finite)
  • object
    • a noun or noun phrase that is the recipient of a verb or preposition
      • ex.
        • She kicked the ball ("ball" = object or "kicked")
        • He ran to school ("to school" = prepositional phrase complement of the verb "ran")
  • participle
    • the -ing or -ed form of a verb
  • phrase
    • two or more words that do not have a finite verb
    • participle phrases and infinitive phrases are formed by the non-finite forms of verbs as either participles or infinitives
  • sentence
    • a grammatically complete thought
      • grammatically complete = contains a finite verb (subject-verb)
    • logically complete = does not need more information to complete the thought


Finite and Non-Finite Verbs & their complements[edit | edit source]

Non-finite verbs & complements[edit | edit source]

  • "complements" are words or phrases that "complement" or "go along with" a subject or verb
  • verbs have complements in the forms of
    • objects
    • adverbs
    • prepositional phrases
    • dependent or "subordinate" clauses
  • the idea is the the "verb complement" adds information to the predicate (which is the verb and its complements)

Finite & Non-Finite verbs and complements[edit | edit source]

Participle

(non-finite verb)

Participle

Complement

Subject Verb Complements Participle

(non-finite verb)

Participle

Complement

(The) student reads a textbook on his own
(The) student reads a textbook on his own to learn more effectively
(The) student reads a textbook on his own , learning more effectively
To learn more effectively (the) student reads a textbook on his own
Reading a textbook on his own (the) student learns more effectively
(The) student learns on his own reading after school
(The) student learns after school reading on his own

Participle phrase placement[edit | edit source]

  • participle = the -ing or -ed forms of a verb
    • participles may serve as finite (take a subject) or non-finite (no subject)
    • finite forms of participles are
      • -ing present participle = present continuous tense
        • It is snowing'; They are playing
      • -ed past participle = simple past tense
        • It snowed'; They played
    • non-finite forms of participles are
      • -ing present participle adjective
        • Snowing all day, the car was buried'; The boys playing around got in trouble
      • -ing "gerund" (present participle noun)
        • Snowing out makes me happy; Playing in the show is fun
      • -ed past participle adjective
        • The snowed in car was stuck'; The team played
  • participle phrase
    • a participle phrase is two or more words that have a non-finite verb (i.e., no subject)
    • (note: if a finite verb is present (subject-verb), it is a clause)
      • participle phrases add information to another word or clause
      • ex.>:
        • present participle phrase: Playing hard, they lost anyway
        • past participle phrase: Played poorly, they lost the game

Participle phrase example 1[edit | edit source]

  • Sentence:

Students read the textbook studying for the test

  • Grammatical forms:
  • Parts of speech:

Participle phrase example 2[edit | edit source]

  • Sentence:

Studying for the test, students read the textbook

  • Grammatical forms:
  • Parts of speech:

Participle phrase example 3[edit | edit source]

  • Sentence:

Students studying for the test read the textbook

  • Grammatical forms:
  • Parts of speech:

Infinitive phrase[edit | edit source]

  • infinitive = the -to form of a verb
    • infinitives are never finite (take a subject)
    • they serve as a adjective, adverb or noun
      • adjective
        • A good game to play is snooker
      • adverb
        • We practice to get better at it
      • noun
        • To play beats not to play

Infinitive phrase placement[edit | edit source]

Infinitive phrase example 1[edit | edit source]

** TO DO **

  • Sentence:

Studying helps to take a test

  • Grammatical forms:
  • Parts of speech:

Infinitive phrase example 2[edit | edit source]

  • Sentence:

Studying for the test, students read the textbook

  • Grammatical forms:
  • Parts of speech:

Infinitive phrase example 3[edit | edit source]

  • Sentence:

Students studying for the test read the textbook

  • Grammatical forms:
  • Parts of speech: