Unlike a finite clause that contains a finite verb, an 'infinitive clause' contains an infinitive. The subject of suggested is the software engineer, and the subject of should develop is we. Importantly, each finite clause contains a finite verb, which is preceded by an explicit subject. The software engineer suggested that we should develop a new product. The second clause, that we should develop a new product, actually occurs 'inside' the first clause, serving as the object of the first finite verb, suggested. The following sentence contains two finite verbs, suggested and should develop. However, a sentence can contain more than one finite verb and therefore more than one finite clause. The above sentences each contain one clause and serve as independent sentences. In both instances, the verbs are preceded by an explicit subject, the design engineer. In the second sentence, the finite verb might change consists of the helping verb might followed by the basic form of the verb change. In the first sentence, the finite verb changed expresses tense, in this case, past tense. The design engineer might change the design of the computer. The design engineer changed the design of the computer. The following sentences are examples of finite clauses (the finite verbs are highlighted). In addition, the finite clause contains a 'finite verb'-a verb that either expresses tense (for example, past or present) or that follows a helping verb such as can, should, or must. With respect to verb type, there are two basic kinds of clause in English: 'finite clauses' and 'nonfinite clauses.'Ī finite clause contains an explicit subject in the form of a noun phrase (for example, students, the software engineer, a computer that they purchased) or a pronoun (for example, we, she, they). The term 'clause' refers to a group of words that minimally contains some type of subject and some type of verb.

Verb clauses ing examples