12. The Verb. Non-finite forms.

Grammatically the verb is the most complex part of speech. This is due to the central role it performs in the expression of the predicative functions of the sentence, i.e. the functions establishing the connection between the situation (situational event) named in the utterance and reality. The complexity of the verb is inherent in the intricate structure of its grammatical categories and in its various subclass divisions, as well as in its falling into two types of the verb profoundly different from each other-the finite and non-finite verbs.

All the verbs (finite and non-finite) have one most important generalized characteristic: the idea of presenting a process developing in time.

From the point of view of their outward structure, verbs are characterized by specific forms of word-building (affixes), as well as by the formal features of its categories. The original simple verb stems are not numerous. For instance: to read, to go, to take. They express the main actions in our life and they usually originate from old times. But there is a tendency to form new verbs and the general productive way of forming the new verbs is convention from the noun. There exist phrasal verbs which occupy an intermediary position between analytical forms of the verb and syntactic word combinations. They can be replaced by simple notional verbs (to have a smoke — to smoke, to give a smile — to smile). There are many verbs which present a combination of a head-verb with postpositionals (stand up, go on, give in, be off, get along).

Semi notional and functional verbs

Semi-notional and functional verbs serve as markers of predication in the proper sense, since they show the connection between the nominative content of the sentence and reality in a specialized way. These "predicators" include auxiliary, modal, semi-notional verbs-introducers and link-verbs.

Notional verbs can be divided into 2 subclasses: actional (to jump, to walk) and statal (to live, to know, to exist).

Non-finite forms/verbids: 1)the infinitive, 2)the gerund, 3)the present participle, and 4)the past participle.

1. The infinitive combines the features of the verb with those of the noun. The inf. represents the head form of the whole paradigm of the verb and the actual derivation base for all the forms of regular verbs. There are 2 types: ‘to-inf’ (to see) and ‘bare inf’ (see). Also there exist ‘split infinitives’ (E.g. My wish is to thoroughly search for the missing data).

2)3)Speaking about the gerund and the present participle (participle 1) we can give their comparative characterization.

1. The gerund is a non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with those of the noun. The present participle is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with those of the adjective and the adverb.

2. The meaning of the gerund is the verbal definition of a process. The present participle is a qualifying processial name.

3. Both the categories have the same form – the suffix (ending) –ing. E.g. Smiling (a gerund here) is a good habit/ He said it smiling (participle 1) at me.

4. The gerund and the present participle have special types of combinability in the sentence. Thus, the combinability of the gerund is dual, it means that the gerund may combine like finite verbs with the nouns and adverbs, and on the other hand it can combine like nouns with finite verbs, adjectives, possessive pronouns, nouns in the possessive case.

The combinability of the present participle is triple, which means that, like verbs, it can combine with nouns expressing the object or the subject of the sentence (participial constructions) and with modifying adverbs. Like adjectives, the present participle can combine with nouns serving as an attribute. Like adverbs, the present participle can combine with modified verbs.

5. The gerund may practically be any part of the sentence, except a verbal predicate: a subject, an object, a predicative, an attribute, an adverbial modifier of this or that kind.

The present participle cannot fulfil all the functions in the sentence. Thus, it is not used as a subject or an object in the sentence. But it is especially widely used as an attribute having the features of the adjective and it is often used as an adverbial modifier (of time or manner) having the features of the adverb.

6. The gerund has no special constructions (except being a part of a stone wall construction).

But the present participle is used as:

a) a part of the complex object.

E.g.: I saw Helen hurrying home.

b) a part of the complex subject

E.g.: Helen was seen hurrying home.

c) a part of the absolute nominative constructin.

E.g.: Our teacher telling (having told) us the themes of the compositions, we all hurried from the classroom.

4) the past participle combines the properties of the verb and those of the adjective serving as a qualifying processual name. Its main self-positional function is that of the attribute or sometimes predicate. E.g. When I saw the broken cup, I got angry.

It is often used in our speech as part of Passive Voice and Perfect Tenses. It can also be part of an absolute participial construction (E.g. The cup broken, I got angry).