(Verbals)

Nonfinite forms of the verb do not limit the verb to a particular number, tense, person or mood and do not function as predicates. In other words, they cannot make sentences, they form only word-combinations: the money borrowed in the bank, the idea of promoting Mr Smith, etc. These forms are also called Verbals because they are made from the verb.

The function of Nonfinite forms of the verb is to complicate sentences adding another verbal structure to the finite one:

Verbal Predicate

The money borrowed in the bank provides basic finance.

The idea of promoting Mr. Smith belonged to the manager.

The above sentences are formally simple as they have only one finite verb (Predicate), but logically there are two ideas that are joined in one sentence:

E.g. The money borrowed in the bank provides basic finance.

The money was borrowed in the bank. The money provides basic finance.

There are four Verbals in the English language: the Infinitive, the Gerund, Participle I and Participle II, two of which - the Gerund and Participle I - coincide in the form:

The infinitive	The Gerund	Participle I	Participle II
to do to write	doing writing	doing writing	done written

The Verbals have voice, aspect and perfect distinctions and they fulfill different functions, consistent with different parts of speech such as the noun, the adjective, and the adverb.

All non-finite verb forms may participate in so –called predicative constructions, where the noun (or pronoun) and a verbal are in predicative relations similar to those of the subject and the predicate:

Eg. I heard Jane singing. We waited for the train to pass. I saw him run.

* Finite forms of the verb are the ones that have a particular number, tense, person or mood and their function in sentences is to be a predicate. In other words, Finite forms of the verb make sentences:

The money provides basic finance. It was borrowed in the bank.

Mr. Smith was promoted. The idea belonged to the manager.

The infinitive

1. 1 The infinitive is a non-finite form of the verb which names a process in a most general way. It is treated as the initial form of the verb, which represents the verb in the dictionaries.

The infinitive can be:

1. used with the particle “to” (the full infinitive/to-infinitive);

2. used without the particle “to” (the bare infinitive);

3. separated with the particle “to” by an adverb (the split infinitive eg. She doesn’t want to even see him). It is used very seldom to give special emphasis to the verb.

The infinitive has a double nature: it combines the features of the verb and the noun.

The nominal features are only syntactical. Like a noun the Infinitive can be used as

1. subject: Never to study at night was her rule.

2. predicative: Judy’s intention was to become a writer.

3. object: Judy was sorry to leave the farm.

The verbal features of the infinitive are of two kinds:

1. Morphological: (like the verb) the infinitive has the category of voice, perfect, aspect.

Eg. to do -Active Voice, to be done - Passive voice;

To do – Non-perfect, to have done – Perfect;

To do – Common(Indefinite), to be doing – Continuous (Progressive).

2. Syntactical: the infinitive possesses the verb combinability (takes an object, can be modified by an adverb)

Eg. I promise never to do such a mistake again. (direct object)

I can do this job perfectly. (an adverb)