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Fri, 3 Mar 1995 15:36:51 -0500 |
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Ed, I talk a lot about finite verbs in DOING GRAMMAR. Essentially, I use
the idea of finiteness to differentiate verb phrases that can be predicates
from other types of verb phrases. A clause has to have a noun phrase that
functions as a subject and a FINITE verb phrase, that is, a verb phrase in
which the first word in the main verb constituent shows either past or
present tense form (and agreement).
I find finiteness a useful concept. Not only does it allow you to define
clauses, it also allows you to explain participial phrases, infinitive
phrases, and gerund phrases as nonfinite verb phrases.
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