I had never heard the terms “finite” and “nonfinite clauses,” so I looked
them up. The examples I found actually look like infinitive and participle
*phrases* to me, not clauses at all. 

Is this just another instance where we get tangled up in terminology upon
which we can’t agree on the definition?  

Here is what I read: 

*********************
"Non-finite clauses are built around verbs that do not have tense or
modality--verbs that are not sentence verb phrases.  These are clauses with
(1) infinitives and (2) participles (both -ed and -ing).  
  
Infinitive Clause: 1. He wondered why he had forsaken physics *to study
human culture in the first place*.

Present Participle Clause: 2.*Entering the world of the Yanomamo*, the
anthropologist experienced culture shock.

Past Participle Clause: 3. *Confused by the differences between his culture
and theirs*, he wanted to flee and return home.
*********************

As always, I'm looking forward to being humbled and to learning something
new . . . 

Nancy


Nancy L. Tuten, PhD
Professor of English
Director of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Program
Columbia College
Columbia, South Carolina
[log in to unmask]
803-786-3706
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Castilleja, Janet
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Odd sentence

Hi
 
What do you folks make of this sentence?  Is the clause that begins 'that
the Greek colonies..." finite or non-finite?  I think it is non-finite, but
I'm wavering a little. 
 
 
When they reached the coast of Asia   Minor, they insisted that the Greek
colonies of Lydia recognize the Persian Kings as their over- Lords and pay
them a stipulated tax.
 
Thanks
 
Janet Castilleja
Heritage University

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