24 a
–Ing Form The -ing form that functions like a noun is called a gerund Feigenbaum,
1985: 239. One of the characteristics of gerund is that it can be replaced by it.
According to Close 1977: 90, the gerund can function as subject, object, complement of be, and object of preposition. The non-finite noun clauses using
gerund as the subject of a sentences is common in general statements with be as the main verb Frank, 1972: 320.
46 Sitting here in the sun is very pleasant Close, 1977: 90.
Meanwhile, gerund can also be the object of the verb. There are some verbs that
should be followed by gerund like admit, avoid, enjoy, and quit. Here is the
example of gerund functioning as the object. 47
He enjoys playing practical jokes Quirk et al., 1990: 1063. Besides, gerund also occurs as the object of a preposition. Swan 1988: item
336 states that gerund is used after all prepositions including to. 48
I am tired of being treated like a child Quirk and Greenbaum, 1985: 321.
The last function of gerund is as the complement of be. As it can be inferred from the name, gerund is used after the be form.
49 Her first job had been selling computers Greenbaum and Quirk, 1990:
312. In addition, gerund can occur in passive and perfect forms. The following
are the examples. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
25 50
The soldier was accused of having betrayed his country Graver, 1981: 147.
51 No one likes being thought a fool Graver, 1981: 147.
The possessives like my, your, and George’s can be used with gerund construction
Swan, 1988: item 333. 52
My forgetting his name was embarrassing Greenbaum and Quirk, 1990: 312.
b To-Infinitive To-infinitive clauses can occur as subject, object, or complement Close,
1977: 96. The to-infinitive is used as a subject of the verbs appear, be, seem
Thomson and Martinet, 1986: 213. 53
To be neutral in this conflict is out of the question Quirk et al., 1992: 96.
A subject can be added into an infinitive clause by putting for to precede the subject Greenbaum and Quirk, 1990: 311.
54 For a bridge to collapse like that is unbelievable Greenbaum and
Quirk, 1990: 320. The second function of to-infinitive clauses is as the object of the verb. It
implies that there are some verbs that should be followed by the infinitive. The verbs are classified into two groups. The first group is the verbs that are followed
directly by the to-infinitive such as afford, decide, plan, and want. This means that the subject of the infinitive is the same as the subject of the main verb Frank,
1972: 334. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
46 55
They decided to divide the profits equally Thomson and Martinet, 1986: 216.
Meanwhile, the second group consists of verbs which should be followed by a pronoun + an infinitive. The pronoun here functions as the subject of the infinitive
Frank, 1972: 335. Some verbs that belong to this group are advise, ask, persuade
, and teach. 56
His wife persuaded him to buy a new car Frank, 1979: 335. The last function of to-infinitive is as a complement. Complement here
refers to the complement of subject + be Close, 1977: 77. The following is the
example. 57
The best excuse is to say that you have an examination tomorrow morning Greenbaum and Quirk, 1990: 311.
Infinitive can also be used to compress noun clauses that are derived from
questions. If the clause is introduced by question word, just add to directly after
the question word. Azar 1989: 265 states that question words can be followed by to-infinitive.
58 a. Finite: Tell me how I can start this car.
b. Non-finite: Tell me how to start this car Close: 1977: 78. If the clause is originally from yes-no question, the conjunction which can be used
is only whether, if cannot be used in this case. To-infinitive is put after whether. The example is:
59 a. Finite: Pam can’t decide whether she should go or stay home.
27 b. Non-finite: Pam can’t decide whether to go or stay home Azar,
1989: 269.
According to Frank 1972: 349, the infinitive replaces modal cancould or
should .
3 The Non-finite Adverbial Clauses
The finite adverbial clauses can also be changed into the non-finite clauses using -ing participle, -ed participle, and to-infinitive. The non-finite adverbial
clauses usually lack a subject. If the subject of the non-finite adverbial clauses is not present, it is assumed that the subject of adverbial clauses is the same as the
subject of the main clauses Quirk et al., 1992: 1121. Further explanation about the usage of each form is presented below.
a -Ing Participle
The way of changing the finite adverbial clauses into the non-finite construction is basically the same as the way of changing the adjective clauses
into adjective phrases. To change the finite adverbial clauses into the non-finite
clauses using –ing participle, the subject and be form of the verb are omitted or
omit the subject and change the verb into –ing form if the clauses do not contain
the be form of the verb Azar, 1989: 315.
60 a. Finite: When we arrived at the party, we saw Ruth standing alone.
b. Non-finite: Arriving at the party, we saw Ruth standing alone Hewings, 2001: 150.
The following is another example. 61
a. Finite: Because I felt tired, I went to bed early. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
28 b. Non-finite: Feeling tired, I went to bed early Murphy, 1987: 134.
The adverbial clause in 60b is a time clause, while in 61b it expresses clause of cause. Being can also be used for clauses of time, following the word after,
before , and since Close, 1977: 92.
62 a. Finite: Since he was in the army, he has been in much better health.
b. Non-finite: Since being in the army, he has been in much better health Close, 1977: 92.
Being is also used to express clauses of cause like in the example below.
63 Being unable to help in any other way, I gave her some money Swan,
1988: item 455. -Ing participle can also occur in perfective form using the word having.
Having + past participle expresses a time which precedes the time used in the
main clause Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman, 1999: 501. According to Hewings 2001: 150, it focuses on the completion of an action before the activity
in the main clause starts. The following is the example. 64
a. Finite: After he had finished all his work, he left his office. b. Non-finite: Having finished all his work, he left his office Frank,
1972: 306.
Azar 1989: 317 states that because is omitted in participle clause of cause.
Another important thing is that clauses using participle can be made negative by
putting not before the verbs Frank, 1972: 305. The example is:
65 Not wishing to continue my studies, I decided to become a dress
designer Swan, 1988: item 455. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
29 b –Ed Participle
Like the non-finite clauses, –ed participle is usually used when the clause is in the passive form Close, 1977: 94. To transform the finite adverbial clauses
into the non-finite form using –ed participle, the subject and the be form of the
verb are omitted. 66
a. Finite: If this house is painted white, it looks bigger. b. Non-finite: Painted white, this house looks bigger Close, 1977: 95.
In 66b, the subject of the adverbial have been omitted, therefore, the subject of the main clause should be made very explicit. –Ed participle can be used to
express clauses of time and clauses of condition. Besides, -ed participle is also used for clauses of concession.
67 a. Finite: Although I was invited, I didn’t go.
b. Non-finite: Although invited, I didn’t go Close, 1977: 95. Being
is followed by –ed participle is another possible form to express clauses in passive. The following is the example.
68 Being imported, the radios were more expended Hewings, 2001: 150.
c To-infinitive
To-infinitive clauses can be used to substitute finite adverbial clauses of purpose Close, 1977: 97. It can be made stronger by the use of in order to or so
as to Frank, 1972: 343.
69 To speed up the delivery of letters, the Post Office introduced
automatic sorting Graver, 1981: 306. To-infinitive also expresses clauses of result.
30 70
a. Finite: His work was so good, that it made him internationally famous.
b. Non-finite: His work was so good as to make him internationally famous Close, 1977: 97.
3. Errors
