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 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/