Tricks of Verb - II

Non-finite verbs

A non-finite verb is a verb that does not function as the predicate verb in a clause. While some non-finite verbs take the form of past or present participles, they are generally not inflected—that is, they don’t have mood, tense, number, aspect, gender, or person.

The opposite of a non-finite verb is a finite verb, which does serve as a predicate verb—for example, the verbs in She walks, He sings, and I went.

There are three main types of non-finite verbs: gerunds, infinitives, and participles.

Gerunds

A gerund is an -ing verb that functions as a noun.

Ex:

Are you into reading?
Sailing is my favourite sport.
When the same words are used as adjectives, they are participles.

Infinitives

Infinitives are non-inflected verbs that are often preceded by to.

They may function as adverbs: I struggle to understand.
They may function as nouns: To read is good for the mind.
And they may function as adjectives: I don’t have time to eat.
Participles

Participles are -ed and -ing verbs that function as adjectives—

Ex:

The sleeping cat is brown.
The freshly picked tomatoes look delicious.
I am going to the store.
The kids were dropped off at school.
Non-finite clauses

A non-finite clause is a dependent clause whose main verb is non-finite. It may function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Ex:

Your calling me was very considerate.
The firetruck , blaring its siren, sped down the road.
We wanted to bring you a present.

Patterns of Verbs

V + INFINITIVE

Most normal verbs use this construction.

Ex:  They decided to stay at home

V + BARE INFINITIVE

Special verbs (except Be, Have and Ought to): do, can/could, will/would, shall/should, may/might, must

Ex: She will come soon

V + -ING

Verbs of likes and dislikes: like, dislike, hate, detest, love, prefer, enjoy...

Ex: She hates walking in the rain

NOTE:

In modern English these verbs can also be used with infinitive with no real change of meaning

Ex: She loves to swim

But if these verbs are used with WOULD, you must always use the infinitive

Ex: I'd like to tell you a secret

Other verbs:  finish, mind, keep, practice, go on, consider, suggest ...

Ex: Would you mind opening the window?

V + Object +  inf

want, ask, invite, order, tell, teach, advise, allow, beg, cause, command, encourage, expect, force, need, order, recommend, remind ....

Ex: She taught him to do it the right way

V + O + bare inf

let, make, (help)

Ex:  I’ll help you move the table

V + O + -ing

The object of the first verb is the subject of the following -ing form. In this case we can also use a possessive adjective.

Ex: excuse, forget, forgive, etc.

Ex: Excuse me for interrupting you

V + -ing / inf

No change of meaning: begin, start, continue

Ex: It began to rain = It began raining

Change of meaning: remember, forget, regret / stop / try / advise, allow, permit, forbid

Remember, forget, regret

Look to the future: Remember to post this letter when you get there  (=don’t forget to do it in the future)

Look to the past: I remember buying my first bicycle when I was 8  (= it's a memory from the past)

Stop

End an action to do something different: He stopped to relax

Finish an action: He stopped driving because he was too tired

Try

Make an effort: He tried to open the door, but it was locked

Make an experiment: He tried speaking to her in German, but she still didn't answer

Advise, allow, permit, forbid

With no object: I advise getting up very early

With an object: I advise you to get up very early

V + O + -ing / bare inf

Verbs of the senses: see, watch, hear, listen, feel, smell, notice...

If we use it with a bare infinitive, the action is perceived complete, from beginning to end. If we use it with -ing then we only perceived a fragment of the action, we saw it happening, but not from beginning to end.

Ex:

    I saw them talk angrily, but nothing happened
    I saw them talking angrily, so I left the room. I could still hear them from the kitchen.

-ING:  Verb + -ing   /   Verb + O + -ing

admit, avoid, delay, deny, detest, excuse (me/my), feel like, finish, forgive (me/my), imagine, fancy, keep, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practice, can't stand, can't help, suggest, look forward to, be used to, give up, resent, resist, risk...

Ex:

Do you mind getting your scruffy finger out of my eye? It hurts, you know?
I detest sitting on the plain with a neurotic scaredy cat

Verb + object + infinitive

advise, allow, ask, expect, forbid, force, invite, like, need, order, persuade, prefer, recommend, request, remind, teach, tell, want, warn...

Ex:

People expect him to tell the best jokes
They forced me to wear that horrible handbag again