Lecture 21 - 22 English 3318: Studies in English Grammar

Nonfinite Verb Phrases Participle and Gerund Phrases Dr. Svetlana Nuernberg

Objectives ● ●

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Identify Infinitive Phrases Recognize infinitives with or without to and those preceded by for Distinguish between infinitives and prepositional phrases Recognize functions of infinitive phrases Distinguish between present-participle and gerund phrases Recognize past participle phrases Recognize functions of participle phrases Identify the nominal functions of gerund phrases

Present Participle Phrases Present participle phrase with subordinating conjunction (elliptical clause)

While eating dinner, we discussed politics.

Present participle phrase without subordinating conjunction

Turning the corner, we felt a sudden gust of wind.

Present participle phrase with subject expressed

Many students being sick that day, the professor postponed the film.

Functions of Present Participle Phase Adverbial Participial Phrase Sentence modifier

Considering how late it is, we ought to go home.

Verb modifier

[After] hearing about the new assignments, the students groaned.

Adjectival Participle Phrase Noun modifier

Those people waiting for the bus look tired.

Diagramming Present Participle Phrases Turning the corner, we felt a sudden gust of wind. we

felt Turning

gust a

sudden

of

corner the

SV VP

NP1 MVP

NP2

ADVP CONJ

MVtr

wind

SV NP1

Grammatical transformation alter this underlying structure by deleting the conjunction, the subject we, and TENSE + AUX from embedded sentence and moving present participle phrase to the beginning of the sentence. VP

MVP

NP2

MVtr We

felt

a sudden gust of wind

as

[we

were turning

the corner]

Different Between Present Participle and Adjectives ●

Some present participles have occurred as noun modifiers so often and for so long that they have become adjectives. – –

participle can modify a noun but will fail all other adjective tests some can be function as participle or as adjective ● ● ●

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The static on that radio is annoying me. (participle) *The static on the radio is very annoying me. * The static on that radio is more annoying me than anything else. The static on that radio is annoying to me. (adjective) The static on that radio is very annoying to me. The static on that radio is more annoying to me than anything else.

Gerunds ●

When a verb with -ing inflection occupies a noun position it is called a gerund. – –

can have all the constituents associated with the sentence from which they are derived can have a subject, take an object, be followed by a complement, or be modified by an adverb phrase ●

He liked being editor of the school paper last year. – – – –

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gerund phrase functions as a direct object of liked he = the underlying subject of being noun phrase editor of the school paper functions as subject complement of being noun phrase last year functions as adverbial modifier

His considering the play amusing surprised them. – – – –

gerund phrase functions as a subject of surprised his – posessive pronoun (he) functions as subject of considering the play = noun phrase functions as direct object of considering amusing = present participle functions as object compliment of the play

Functions of Gerunds and Gerund Phrases ●

Gerund and Gerund Phrases function like nouns and noun phrases – – – – – – – –

subjects His immediately demanding your payment showed his inexperience. objects (direct object) Felicia's grandmother enjoys riding a ten-speed bicycle. subject complements (predicate nominative) Sherry's hobby was saving ordinary coins in a tin can. objects of a preposition Gerald can afford college by regularly working two jobs.

Summary Tests for Identifying Adverbial Participle Phrases. He tried to think carefully while answering their questions. 1. Substitution of an adverb 2. Wh-question using wh-adverb 3. Movability

He tried to think carefully then. When did he try to think carefully? While answering their questions, he tried to think carefully.

Tests for Identifying Adjectival Participle Phrases. The static coming from that radio is annoying. 1. Usually can be restated as a relative clause 2. Modifies a noun that precedes it

The static that is coming from that radio is annoying. The static coming from that radio is annoying.

Tests for Identifying Gerunds She hates waiting around for a repairmen to show up. 1. Substitute something or it for the gerund phrase 2. Wh-question using what

She hates something. What does she hate?

Difference Between Gerund and Present Participle ● ●

Compare: Betty having told us that you were coming, we weren't surprised. – – –

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contains a participle adverbial present participle construction its subject (Betty) is in uninflected form

We appreciate Betty's having told us that you were coming. – – –

contains a gerund the entire phrase functions as a direct object of the verb appreciated its subject (Betty's) is a possessive form of a noun

Differences Between Gerunds and Nouns ●

Gerunds appear in the noun positions of sentences, but they can not take noun inflections – –

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Eating too many green apples made her sick. *Eatings too many green apples

After functioning on the periphery of nounlike words, some gerunds became true nouns –

The congressional meetings lasted several hours. ●

–

We held the final meeting last week. ●

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meetings comes after a determiner and is plural a true noun (has a determiner, modified by an adjective, can be plural)

They enjoy meeting each other for lunch every Saturday. ●

fails the noun tests (it is a gerund)

Past Participle Phrases ●

Passive clauses containing past participles can also be reduced so that they become participle phrases. –

When they were awakened by the unusual noise, the dog began to bark. ●

– –

When awakened by unusual noise, the dog began to bark. Restored by good rest, Cindy was eager to enter another marathon. ●

–

by way of clause reduction

After Cindy was restored by a good rest, Cindy was eager to enter another marathon. ●

–

were awakened = TESNE[past] + BE + {-en} + awaken

by way of passive transformation

After a good rest[subject] restored[tr] Cindy[DO] + Cindy was eager to enter another marathon.

Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Participle Phrases ●

Because they are derived from relative clauses, participle phrases functioning adjectivally can either be restrictive or nonrestrictive. –

The lone Romulan warship, crippled by photon torpedoes, drifted slowly toward the asteroid. ● ● ● ● ●

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nonrestrictive only one Romulan warship is reffered to doesn't specify or restrict which warship is being referred to provides additional information set off with commas (like non restrictive relative clause)

The lone Romulan warship crippled by photon torpedoes drifted slowly toward its undamaged sister ship.

Functions of Past Participle 1. Postnoun modifier (adjectival)

The car parked behind the movie theater belongs to an asher.

2. Prenoun modifier (adjectival)

Irrigated fields produce most of our lettuce.

3. Adjectival object complement

The crowd saw them trounced by their opponents.

4. Pre – or postclause modifier (adverbial)

When inflated, the balloon measured six feet in diameter.

5. Pre – or postclause modifier Refused a place on the ticket, Hubert (ambiguous: adverbial or adjectival) decided to run as an Independent.

Differences Between Past Participles and Adjectives ●

Many past participles have been used as noun modifiers for a long time, so they have become adjectives –

Disturbed by rumors, the committee decided to investigate the mail order company. (adjective) ●

– – –

can be compared – very disturbed, more disturbed than usual

The painting offered to the museum were auctioned off for 30 million dollars. (participle) Informed of her test results, Patrice decided to take the Sats again. (participle) Informed on many subjects, Meredith is in demand as a speaker. (peripheral adjective)

Nominative Absolutes ●

Are related to the nonfinite verb phrases. –

consist of a subject noun phrase followed by some part of the predicate ●

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either a participle form of the main verb or a compliment or modifier of the main verb TENSE and forms of the verb be (aux, or main) in the following examples have been removed to create absolute

Examples –

The year's work completed, Santa lay down for a long rest. ●

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His voice quavering, Charlie called, “Is anyone there?” ●

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The year's work was completed (Type V passive completed = past participle His voice was quavering (Type I quavering = present participle)

Help neaby, the team climed confidently to the top. ●

help was nearby (Type II nearby = adverb)