Finites Vs non-Finites Flashcards
which verb subgroup is always finite?
Modal
What are the non-finite forms?
- Bare/plain infinitive
- To-infinitive
- Present participle
- Past participle
What are finite forms?
tensed forms
What are non-finite forms?
plain infinitive She would take the train to- infinitive she expected to do it a lot longer yet present participle (-ing form) Tomorrow she was travelling past participle (-ed/-en form) She had gone out early
How can you test if the verb is finite?
Change the tense (present/past)
Change the person/number (e.g. the verb form for I vs he)=If the verb form changes it’s finite
Where are the non-finite forms placed?
After the finite verbs
Modal verbs are always….
FINITE-limited to tense, person and number
What is the finite verb limited to?
Tense, person and number
What is the finite verb showing us in this example She has been painting the kitchen
Present, 3rd person, subjective
What is the finite verb showing us in this example? I have been painting the kitchen
Present, singular 1st person
What is the finite verb showing us in this example? I had been painting the kitchen
Past tense, singular 1st person
What does the finite verb show?
Tense either in present or past tense
Where would the tensed verb(finite) be in the predicator?
The 1st verb in the predicator
What is the tensed verb known as?
The finite verb
What does the predicator consist of?
Could be 1 verb=simple predicator
Several verbs=complex predicator
*be careful as not verb like forms are part of of the predicator eg. Walking could be a noun/adjective/verb
What is the verb group also known as?
The predicator
Traditionally how are sentences divided up?
sentences are described as consisting of a noun phrase and a verb phrase (S → NP + VP), e.g. The boy(NP) had been buying groceries(VP). Here the verb phrase is the whole verb group and any premodifiers/etc
Matches with subject+predicate
But some people would’ve only classed the verb group/ the predicator (has been buying) as the verb phrase.
Besides lexical and aux what other way can you group verbs?
Finite versus non-finite forms
Describe what is meant by subject-verb agreement/
finite verb forms also change depending on the person and number of the subject They’re ‘conjugated’ for person and number. Changing the form of the verb to make it agree with the subject.
e.g. present simple=I cook, he/she/it cooks, we/they/ you cook
past simple=I cooked, he/she/it cooked, we/they/ you cooked
Which verb group is affected by the SV agreement/conjugating for person and number?
Finite verb group
Describe the present tense in English
present (simple) tense is used for general truth or repeated intermittent action (e.g. routine, timetable) They play the French horn
On Wednesday I do plant therapy
The bus leaves at 5pm every day
He barks at birds
Water boils at 100˚C
But it is also used for the historical present! - for past actions narrated in a story (helps to engage the reader; feels like it is happening now)
I run to the gate. I take the hammer and raise it high. I smash the lock and run inside
Describe the past tense in English
Past simple= ‘preterite’ Completed (‘contained’) action in a time before now Rups bought a red car I went to Prague in 2018 Jitten won the book prize in 2008
The first verb in the predicator is…
either in the present or past tense. It is called the tensed or finite verb.
spot the finite verb in the predicator:
I had been painting the kitchen
had=finite
spot the finite verb in the predicator: She has been painting the kitchen
has=finite
what non-finite form ends with ed/en
past participle
Verbs can modifiy
tense,
aspect
modality
voice
tense relates to the location….
of the event in time
Aspect relates
to the temporal unfolding / internal structure of the event
modality/mood relates
to the attitude of the speaker towards the event
In a finite verb phrase
the first verb will be finite, in present or past form
any verb that follows a modal will be in (to) infinitive form
the lexical verb will be the last
what’s the structure of the past tense
Regular verbs+ed (no 3rd person form)
Irregular forms: also usually no 3rd person form (BE is an exception with several forms)
how many finites in a clause
1
if there is one verb in the sentence? what is it?
lexical and finite
where would you find the finite in a verb group?
1st one.
