Participle phrase & infinitive phrase

Terminology

• 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-finite 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

Non-finite verbs & complements

• "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

Participle (non-finite verb)	Participle Complement	Subject	Verb	Complements	Participle or Infinitive (non-finite verb)	Participle / Infinitive 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

• 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

• Sentence:

Students read the textbook studying for the test

• Grammatical forms:

• Parts of speech:

Participle phrase example 2

• Sentence:

Studying for the test, students read the textbook

• Grammatical forms:

• Parts of speech:

Participle phrase example 3

• Sentence:

Students studying for the test read the textbook

• Grammatical forms:

• Parts of speech:

Infinitive phrase

• 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

Infinitive phrase example 1

• Sentence:

Studying helps to take a test

• Grammatical forms:

• Parts of speech:

Infinitive phrase example 2

• Sentence:

To study for a test is wise

• Grammatical forms:

• Parts of speech:

Infinitive phrase example 2

• Sentence:

Studying for the test, students read the textbook

• Grammatical forms:

• Parts of speech:

Infinitive phrase example 3

• Sentence:

Students studying for the test read the textbook

• Grammatical forms:

• Parts of speech: