Finite and Non-finite Clauses

The class "circumstance" represents the circumstance. It can be adverb, prepositional phrase or noun clause (infinitive clause or participle clause), what is decided by the attribute "type". Its attribute "position" represents the position of the circumstance in the sentence: pre, mid, or post, and the "attribute" represents its semantic function in the whole sentence: place, time, way, and others. We have discussed adverbs, prepositional phrases, and the attribute type to describe. circumstances in the previous part. We can also use clauses to describe circumstances. A clause is divided into two: finite and non-finite. Now, we are going to discuss about finite and non-finite clauses which function as circumstances.

1 . Finite Clause

A finite clause is .a clause which has a finite verb. Finite clause can be either dependent or independent. Finite clauses must contain a verb which shows tense. They can be main clauses or subordinate clauses.

Example:

The phone rang while I was watching TV. (main clause: past, subordinate clause: past; rang is a finite verb, I was watching TV; finite clause) There are three main types of finite dependent clauses: that-clauses, adverbial clauses, Wh-clauses (may also be independent).

a. That-clauses
They function as subject, object, complement. 

Example: I know that you are an athlete.

b. Adverbial clauses

They function as adverbs.

Example: I went to school when my mother went to the market.

c. Wh-clauses

They include who, whom, whose, which, why, when, where, and how.

Example: I want to go to a place where there is a beach.

2. Non-finite Clause

A non-finite clause is a clause which does not have a finite verb. A non-finite clause cannot stand alone. It rarely includes a subject, and its verb is a secondary verb form (infinitival, gerund-participle or past participle) which cannot be inflected for tense, person, or number. It is a dependent clause serving as a subject or a complement to a verb, preposition, or noun. Non-finite clauses are usually subordinate clauses.

Example:

Watching TV, the phone rang. (watching TV is non-finite clause) 

There are some types of non-finite clauses: to-infinitive, participles (-ing and -ed).

a. To-infinitive

Example: He stands up to answer the question.

b. Present participle clause (-ing clause)

Example: Before becoming a secretary, she was a receptionist.

c. Past participle clause (-ed clause)
Example: Annoyed by his little brother, Aris studied in his room.

Differences Between Finite and Non-finite Clauses

Finite clauses are those clauses containing a subject and a finite verb (marked for tense, person, and number). Finite clause can be either dependent or independent. In contrast, non-finite clauses are those clauses formed with a non-finite verb, a verbal element which is not marked for tense, person, or number. Non-finite clauses are always dependent or embedded, since a main clause must have a finite ve'1). We usually use adverbial clause and noun clause to describe circumstances. Here is the explanation about them.

1 . Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial clauses are groups of words that function as an adverb or circumstance (time, place, contrast, condition, manner, comparison, reason or cause, result or circumstance). Adverbial clauses modify a verb (either finite or non-finite), an adjective, an adverb, or another clause. Adverbial clauses are connected with the main clause by means of subordinators - some of these have one meaning only, so that we can immediately classify the clause of belonging to a certain

type of adverbial clause.

a. Finite Adverbial Clause

Finite adverbial clauses usually contain a subordinating conjunctions, for example when, while, as, since, after, until, as soon as, etc. The clauses may use modal and temporal verbs (past, present, future). Most of the finite adverbial clauses belong to circumstances of time.

Examples:

Mother cooked for lunch before she went outside. (Cir. Location: Time) 

I will accompany you if I arrive early. (Cir. Condition)

I didn't tell you because I was shocked. (Cir. Cause)

We ate dinner where all the locals usually go to. (Cir. Location: Place)

b. Non-finite Adverbial Clauses

Non-finite adverbial clauses usually use an infinitive form of the verb or present/past participle used without auxiliary verbs. When this occurs, the subordinating conjunction is removed, thus leaving the sentence open to interpretation. 

Examples:

(In case of) raining, we prepare raincoat. (Cir. Cause: Reason)

Exhausted by the game, Ricky didn't go to the party. (Cir. Cause: Reason)

To open the box, you have to Lise the scissors. (Cir. Cause: Purpose)

The boy trembled, frightened i:Jy the thunder. (Cir. Cause: Reason)

Notes:

How to Reduce Adverbial Clauses

An adverbial clause can be shortened to an adverb phrase. This can be particularly helpful when you want to express your ideas in a more concise manner. Before you reduce an adverb clause into an adverbial phrase, make sure that the adverb clause (subordinate clause) and the main clause have the same subject. As I had slept for ten hours, I felt fresh. Having slept for ten hours, I felt fresh. Because he practiced hard, he passed the Having practiced hard, he passed the audition. audition. After he did some researches, he became a After doing some researches, he became a volunteer. volunteer.

Because she was late, she didn't get tickets for Being late, she didn't get tickets for the show. the show.

2. Noun Clauses

A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts as a noun. Noun clauses begin with words such as how, that, what, whatever, when, where, whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, and why. Noun clauses can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate nominatives, or objects of a preposition. Noun clauses perform many of the same functions as nouns and noun phrases. The following are examples of noun clauses which function as object of preposition. A noun clause can also act as an adjective complement, modifying a verb, adjective, or adverb.

a. Finite Noun Clauses

Examples:

I'm packing extra snacks for when we get hungry.

She spends money for whatever she wants.

b. Non-finite Noun Clauses

Examples:

My mom listened to me singing the song.

My friends begged me to treat them.

We went together yesterday for hanging out.