Welcome to our lesson on non-finite verbs. Non-finite verbs are special verb forms that do not act as the main predicate in a sentence. Unlike finite verbs, they have no person or number changes. There are three main types: infinitives with to plus verb, gerunds with verb plus ing, and participles. These forms can function as subjects, objects, attributes, and adverbials while keeping their verb characteristics.
Now let's focus on infinitives. The infinitive is formed by 'to' plus the base verb. It has several forms: basic 'to do', negative 'not to do', perfect 'to have done', and passive 'to be done'. Infinitives can function as subjects, objects, attributes, adverbials, and complements. Common patterns include 'want to do', 'ask someone to do', and purpose expressions like 'came to study'. Remember that after verbs like make and let, we drop the 'to'.
Next, let's explore gerunds. Gerunds are formed by adding 'ing' to verbs. They have forms like basic 'doing', negative 'not doing', perfect 'having done', and passive 'being done'. Gerunds function as subjects, objects, predicatives, and must follow prepositions. Common verbs that take gerunds include enjoy, finish, mind, practice, avoid, and suggest. Remember that gerunds express purpose or function, while present participles express ongoing actions.
Now let's examine participles. Present participles with 'ing' express active, ongoing actions, while past participles with 'ed' or third form express passive, completed states. Both can function as attributes, adverbials, and complements. The key rule is that the logical subject of the participle must be the same as the sentence subject. For example, 'Seeing the teacher, students stood up' - the students are doing the seeing. Be careful to avoid dangling participles where the subjects don't match.
To summarize what we have learned about non-finite verbs: They include infinitives, gerunds, and participles that function as various sentence components. Infinitives with 'to' express purposes and follow specific verbs. Gerunds with 'ing' come after certain verbs and prepositions. Participles show active or passive meanings. Understanding these patterns and avoiding common errors will help you master non-finite verbs in your exams.