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Non-finite verbs & the "verbiness" of participles gerunds infinitives: Difference between revisions

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== Non-finite verb forms: ==
== Non-finite verb forms: ==


* '''present participle = -''ing'''''
=== '''present participle = -''ing''''' ===
** = an adjective (“present participle adjective”) or
* = an adjective (“present participle adjective”) or
** = a noun (“gerund”)
* = a noun (“gerund”)
*** a gerund is a "present participle adjective"
** a gerund is a "present participle adjective"
**** sometimes called "verb noun"
*** sometimes called "verb noun"
* '''past participle = ''-ed'''''


·      = an adjective (“past participle adjective”)
=== '''past participle = ''-ed''''' ===


* = an adjective (“past participle adjective”)


·      '''infinitive''' = “to” form of a verb
=== '''infinitive''' = “to” form of a verb ===


·      as in "to go" or "to enjoy"
* as in "to go" or "to enjoy"
 
* “infinitive” is from Latin for “indefinite” or “unrestricted” because the verb form is not tied to a specific case (person or number)
·      “infinitive” is from Latin for “indefinite” or “unrestricted” because the verb form is not tied to a specific case (person or number)
** can be an adjective, adverb or noun
 
·      can be an adjective, adverb or noun


== Purpose of non-finite verbs ==
== Purpose of non-finite verbs ==
The non-finite verbs do not indicate a direct action, but they convey a “sense” of action. So, when we say,
The non-finite verbs do not indicate a direct action, but they convey a “sense” of action. So, when we say,


''Learning grammar is boring, but to know a little is quite useful''
'''''Learning grammar''' is boring, but to know a little is quite useful''


* "learning" = gerund (noun)  
* "learning" = gerund (noun)
** "grammar" = the object of the gerund "learning
* "grammar" = the object of the gerund "learning"* "is" = finite verb
* "is" = finite verb
** the subject of "is" is the gerund (non-finitve verb) "learning"
** the subject of "is" is the gerund (non-finitve verb) "learning"
* "to know" = infinitive  
* "to know" = infinitive  
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*** "a little" is a compound adverb that modifies "to know"
*** "a little" is a compound adverb that modifies "to know"


whereas both “learning” and “to know” are the subjects (nouns) of the two verbs “is”, they convey the action of learning and knowing.
Whereas both “learning” and “to know” are the subjects (nouns) of the two verbs “is”, they convey the action of learning and knowing.


Additionally, while non-finite verbs do not have a subject, they maintain the grammatical properties of finite verbs of objects and complements. Thus, in
Additionally, while non-finite verbs do not have a subject, they maintain the grammatical properties of finite verbs of objects and complements. Thus, in