Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Finite and non-finite clauses

The next sections (297–298) look at finite and non-finite clauses. A finite clause

has a verb which indicates tense (i.e. a tensed verb form, 

Û

215

). A non-finite

clause has a verb with no indication of tense (i.e. a non-tensed verb form, 

Û

215

),

and depends for the interpretation of its time reference on other clauses in the

environment:

They jointly 

earned £60,000 a year.

(finite: past tense form)

Sally just phoned me 

wondering whether she should come over in the near

future rather than at New Year

.

(wondering is a non-tensed form, but its past time context is interpreted from

phoned

; the clause in green is non-finite)

Tags

The chapter also considers tags (299–303), which are short clauses added on to

main clauses either to create questions or to reinforce statements, directives and

exclamations:

You like mushrooms, 

don’t you?

I’m hungry, 

I am.

Pass me that pen, 

will you.

What a pretty girl, 

isn’t she!