VERBAL OR NON-FINITE VERBS

·       Max reads a book

·        Max to read

The first sentence is able to make sense but the second sentence cannot make sense. All of you know the definition of non-finite verb. Therefore, here I have tried to illustrate about the types of non-finite verb in details.

The types of non-finite verbs are given below –

·        Infinitives

·        Participle

·        Present Participle

·        Past Participle

·        Gerund

Don’t worry about it because it seems to be very difficult to you but it might be very simple if you pay your attention seriously with the topic as I am going to discuss. So, read the discussion as mentioned below.

Infinitives: Though what’s infinitive is very clearly known to all of you and even you know the form of infinitive, once again let me tell you about the form of infinitive (To + Verb (p.p)) infinitive is formed in using “To” before the verb that must be present form. See the below example –

                       

[To + Verb (p.p)] I want to read a book (To read = infinitive)

                        p.p = past participle 

Now see the types of infinitive given below

·        Simple or Noun-Infinitive

·        Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive

·        Simple or Noun-Infinitive: When infinitive is acted as noun is called simple or noun-infinitive. It’s also used as subject, object, complement etc.

Here some examples are given below to make you clear about the uses of simple or noun-infinitive.

·        As a subject: To tell lie is a sin.

·        As an object: I want to go.

·        As an object of a preposition: I cannot but (to) laugh. The man was about to die.

·        As the complement to a verb: She appears to be tired. I am to do it. (“To be” and “to do” are infinitives because they together complete the meaning of the verb. Therefore, they are complements of the verb.

·        As the complement to an object: We expect you to go. (“You” is the object of the sentence and “to go” is also an infinitive which tells us about “you”.

·        Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitives: If infinitive is acted as adjective and adverb or used as parenthetically is called gerundial or infinitive. See the below –

The Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive is used for

·        Purpose

·        Cause

·        Condition

·        Result

·        Parenthetically

See some examples to show you how this type of infinitive is used following the above mention.

·        She came to see me or we eat to live (purpose)

·        I am sorry to disturb you (cause)

·        You can take my book to read for only a week (condition)

·        He studied hard to score good mark in the exam (result)

·           

Split Infinitive

I told him to do it

I told him to do it quickly

I told him to quickly do it.

The use of “quickly” is right in the second sentence but in the third sentence “quickly” is used between “to” and “verb” (“to quickly do it”). The verb is said to have been split from the “to” which is called split infinitive. It’s ofcourse that presently the split infinitive is not thought to be wrong uses.

Participle:

The child is running

The child came to me running.

Now look at the first sentence which contains “V+ing” and auxiliary verb “is”. So, it is so doubt a present continuous tense. But in the second sentence which does not have auxiliary verb before V+ing and even the sentence does not belong to present continuous tense. Therefore, “running” is acted as verb and adjective in the same time. We get answer if we ask “how did the child come to its mother?  Answer = “running”

So “running” is a present participle

Active: I killed a snake

Passive: A snake was killed by me

“A killed snake cannot bite” (This sentence is neither passive nor perfect tense. Therefore, it’s past participle that is called double past of speech due to it acts both verb and adjective. 

Types of Participle:

·        Present Participle (Verb+ing)

·        Past Participle (gone, done, killed)

·        Perfect Participle (Having+Verb (p.p)

Discussion in Details:

(1) Present Participle

According to the above discussion present participle is illustrated elaborately. Here I tried to give you some examples but always remember that participle acts as to be adjective and verb at the same time.

            Do not + disturb a sleeping dog.

Let's go to discuss in details concerning the sentence as mentioned above that the dog is sleeping (what does the dog do?). Here some examples are given below.

Bring me the flower + it is floating = Bring me the floating flower.

Do not get on the bus + It is running = Do not get on the running bus.

The child went to it's mother + It was dancing = The child went to its mother dancing.

(2) Past Participle

Part participle is a form of verb is used in the sentence as to act verb and adjective is called past participle. We have already got somewhat idea concerning participle. Here we elongate the discuss more in details.

This is a book

The book is written by Rabindranath.

The second sentence is called passive voice. Now we are going to add two sentences -

This is a book written by Rabindaranath ( In this sentence "written" is a past participle but it is also used as an adjective and verb)

"The days gone are sweeter than the days to me" (gone = past participle and to come = gerundial infinitive)

 (3) Perfect Participle

Perfect participle: Having + V(p.p) if it is used as to mean adjective and verb accordingly is called perfect participle. Do you remember the structure of perfect infinitive? Ok then see ... to + have + v (p.p) such as I am sorry to have disturbed you.

Elaboration:

1.      He ate rice.

2.      He went to bed.

Both two sentences are the form of past tense and if we write them together then it would be - Having eaten rice, he went to bed (after eating rice he went to bed)

Having said this, he went away.

Gerunds

Verb + ing if it acts as noun and verb in the sentence is called gerund such as given below

Taking exercise is a good habit (The whole part is left side of "is" is subject of the sentence. So it's no doubt noun and "taking" is used as verb and its object is "exercise". Therefore, "taking" acts noun and verb at the same time in the sentence.

Gerund vs Participle:

The difference between participle and gerund is very simple. Let me make you understand more about it.

Gerund= noun + verb (Taking exercise is a good habit)

Participle = adjective + verb (I'm sorry to have disturbed you)

Function of Gerund:  

1.      As a subject:  Rising early is a good habit.

2.      As an object: Stop writing. I like playing golf.

3.      As an object for preposition: He is fond of catching fish (“catching fish" is an object of the preposition "of")

4.      As a complement for the verb: Seeing is believing. Working is earning.

5.      As a nominative absolute: Swimming being a good exercise, I will swim everyday.

6.      As a compound noun: Put aside your reading materials and sit for the exam. ("Reading materials" is used as one word but it consists of two words which is compound)

Verbal Noun:

We have known what gerund is and what it does. But the gerund sometimes is used as only noun is called verbal noun.

The gerund of or (The + V(ing) + of) such as - 

The reading of, The taking of, The making of.

The reading of newspaper is a good habit. The taking of exercise is good to health. The making of dolls is an interesting job.

Infinitive:  To read newspaper is a good habit.

Gerund: Reading newspaper is a good habit.

Verbal Noun:  The reading of newspaper is good habit.

Differences of Participle, Gerund, and Verbal Noun:

Participle:  Adjective + Verb

Gerund:  Verb + Noun

Verbal Noun:  Noun