FINITE AND NON-FINITE

CLAUSES
STRUCTURES OF ENGLISH
 LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Distinguish the restrictive from non-restrictive

relative clauses, indefinite and sentential
relative clauses, and to cleft and
pseudocleft sentences and non-finite
clauses;
• Construct sentences with finite clauses; That-
clauses, Adverbial clauses, Wh-Clauses,
Non-finite Clauses, Omitted non-finite
clauses, and Complementizers.
 FINITE CLAUSES

• Must contain a verb which show tense. They

can be main clauses or subordinate clauses.
• Indicate person, number and tense.
• Have a definite relation with the subject and
can be changed according to tense.
• Independent or dependent
• Contains subject
• Contains finite verbs
 FINITE VERB

• Finite verbs are also called the limited verbs

or the actual verbs, which is the background
of the sentence responsible for the tense
formation.
• They have definite relation with a subject or
a noun of a sentence and are also
changed accordingly to the noun.
 EXAMPLE

Finite verb Sentences

Goes He goes to school daily.
Opens The shop opens sharply at 9:00
A.M.
Wakes He wakes up early in the morning
ran She ran in the tournament and
took first place
 NON-FINITE CLAUSES
• Contain a verb which does not show tense.
We usually use non-finite verbs only in
subordinate clauses.
• Does not indicate person, number and
tense
• Do not change but remains constant with
the change in tense or number or person
• Dependent/Subordinate clause
• May/may not contain a subject
• Cannot stand alone (dependent)
 EXAMPLE

• A flying plane looks smaller than the still one.

• They needed rocking music to enjoy that
time.
• Everyone was ready to dance on the track
• She refuses to sleep alone in the darkness
 RESTRICTIVE CLAUSES

• Restricts or defines the meaning of a noun or

noun phrase and provides necessary
information about the noun in the sentence.
• It is not separated from the rest of the
sentence by commas.
• Restrictive clauses are more common in
writing than non-restrictive clauses.
 EXAMPLES

• The students who sits in the back of the room

asks a lot of questions.
• The results that I obtained may invoke
positive and social change.
• The journalist whose story I read yesterday
has won prizes for her work.
 NON-RESTRICTIVE CLAUSES

• Adds additional information to a sentence.

• It is usually a proper noun or a common non
that refers to a unique person, thing or
event.
• Uses commas to show that information is
additional.
• The commas almost act like parentheses
within the sentence.
 EXAMPLE

• I want to thank my fans, Jollie Angels, for all

the love and support.
With the non-restrictive clause omitted: I want
to thank my fans for all their love and support.
• The hypothesis, which I tested throughout the
research, was rejected.
With the non-restrictive clause omitted: The
hypothesis was rejected.
• That Clause: A subordinate clause that
usually begins with the word that.
• Adverbial Clause: group of words that,
together, functions as an adverb.
• Wh Clauses: subordinate clause that’s
introduced by one of the wh-words (what,
who, which, when, where, why, how)
 REFERENCES

• Abelos, A. A., Esgra, C. B., Abulencia, E.,

Viar, O. M., & Avila, D. M. 2005. Essentials of
speech. Anahaw Enterprises.Philippines
• Bernardez, E. B. 2011. English for specific
purposes. Jimczyville Publications. Malabon,
Philippines
• Bernardez, E. B. 2009. Developmental
reading 2. MINDSHAPERSCO., INC. Manila
• Brindhamani, M.2014. Language education.
A. P. H. Publishing Corporation. New Delhi