Chapter 9
Finite and Nonfinite Clauses
Exercise 9.7The Function of Nonfinite Clauses
Identify the type and function of each nonfinite clause.
| Example: | I plan to make some Mint Juleps. (coca:news) |
| Answer: | to make some Mint Juleps Type: to-infinitive Function: dO |
There was still one last task for him to achieve. (coca:fic)
Anderson and his son had often talked about hiking to Shoshone Lake. (coca:mag)
We’ve had to hire people to answer the phones. (coca:spok)
My parents asked me where to eat lunch. (coca:fic)
The patient had earlier denied having been bitten or scratched by a cat. (coca:acad)
A bank employee loudly turned down her application to open an account. (coca:mag)
Worried about his future, he went to college. (coca:mag)
Judging from the online photos, the place looked adorable. (coca:mag)
He asked her what made her think she could paint. (coca:fic)
Yet he remained committed to Irish republicanism. (coca:fic)
We think that's not the best idea, to raffle off guns (coca:news)
Half the money spent on a political campaign is wasted. (coca:spok)
Having been founded by the Saracens in the ninth century, Nettuno still attracts tourists (coca:mag)
Consumed by a sudden curiosity, Buridan follows. (coca:fic)
It's hard to know where to draw the line. (coca:mag)
Determine whether the matrix verb in each of the following sentences belongs to the expect-type, the want-type, or the persuade-type class of verbs.
Our parents helped us pay for school. (coca:news)
He intends it to stand on its own. (coca:acad)
So students got the media involved. (coca:mag)
Her steady gaze almost compelled him to apologize. (coca:fic)
I quickly found myself caught up in the fraternity rush. (coca:mag)
She overheard them arguing a few nights ago. (coca:news)
They also watched her park her car in the tiny lot outside.
He got me to shoot it a few times. (coca:fic)
I just want to urge you to keep your spirits up. (coca:spok)
Identify the function of the italicized nonfinite clause in each sentence. Then give a D-structure tree for the entire sentence.
He is anxious to be getting away.
I was surprised at Sid's criticizing my work.
For them to lose their son was a great tragedy.
Do we have the money to buy that car?
We were pleased to be seeing our old friends.
It is very tedious writing papers.
He has been warned about taking on that job.
I will write the manager to get my money back.
Where is the best place to buy fish?
We regretted his decision to leave university.
We were not able to get away until now.
Anyone not registered in this course must leave.
To tell you the truth, I don’t know.
He is the person wanting to see you.
Wanting to see him, I visited his office.
| a. | There was still one last task for him to achieve. | |
| Type: for-infinitive | Function: Mod of task | |
| b. | hiking to Shoshone Lake | |
| Type: -ing participle | Function: OP | |
| c. | to answer the phones | |
| Type: to-Infinitive | Function: Mod of people | |
| d. | where to eat lunch | |
| Type: wh-infinitive | Function: dO | |
| e. | having been bitten or scratched by a cat | |
| Type: -ing participle | Function: dO | |
| f. | to open an account | |
| Type: to-infinitive | Function: comp of n̄ | |
| g. | Worried about his future | |
| Type: -en participle | Function: aA | |
| h. | Judging from the online photos | |
| Type: -ing participle | Function: dA | |
| i. | think she could paint | |
| Type: bare infinitive | Function: oC | |
| j. | committed to Irish republicanism | |
| Type: -en participle | Function: sC | |
| k. | to raffle off guns | |
| Type: to-infinitive | Function: comp to n̄ | |
| l. | spent on a political campaign | |
| Type: -en participle | Function: Mod of money | |
| m. | Having been founded by the Saracens in the ninth century | |
| Type: -ing participle | Function: Mod of Nettuno | |
| n. | Consumed by a sudden curiosity | |
| Type: -en participle | Function: aA (or Mod of Buridan) | |
| o. | to know | |
| Type: to-infinitive | Function: eSu | |
| where to draw the line | ||
| Type: wh-infinitive | Function: dO | |
expect-type: (a), (e), (f)
want-type: (b), (c), (g)
persuade-type: (d), (h), (i)
complement of A
object of P
subject
modifier of n̄
complement of A
extraposed subject
object of P
adjunct adverbial
modifier of n̄
complement of n̄
complement of A
modifier of n̄
disjunct adverbial
modifier of n̄
adjunct adverbial