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Clauses: finite and non-finite

Finite clauses​

Finite clauses must contain a verb which shows tense. They can be main clauses or subordinate clauses:

  • Is it raining? (main: present)
  • I spoke to Joanne last night. (main: past)
  • We didn’t get any food because we didn’t have enough time. (main: past; subordinate: past)

Non-finite clauses​

Non-finite clauses contain a verb which does not show tense. We usually use non-finite verbs only in subordinate clauses. We usually understand the time referred to from the context of the main clause. We often use a non-finite clause when the subject is the same as the subject in the main clause:

  • I had something to eat before leaving. (I had something to eat before I left.)
  • After having spent six hours at the hospital, they eventually came home.
  • Helped by local volunteers*, staff at the museum have spent many years sorting and cataloguing more than 100,000 photographs.*
  • He left the party and went home, not having anyone to talk to.
  • The person to ask about going to New Zealand is Beck.
  • You have to look at the picture really carefully in order to see all the detail.

After, although, though, and if​

We often use non-finite clauses after some subordinating conjunctions like after, although, though and if:

  • By the end of the day, although exhausted, Mark did not feel quite as tired as he had in the past. (although he was exhausted)
  • The proposal, if accepted by Parliament, will mean fundamental changes to the education system.
See also
  • Ellipsis

After verbs + -ing or infinitive with to​

We use non-finite clauses as the complements to verbs which take -ing or to-infinitive after them:

  • I don’t enjoy playing tennis in the rain.
  • I’d hate to travel to London every day.

Relative clauses​

A relative clause can be non-finite when the subject of the relative clause is the same as the subject of the main clause:

  • The man sitting on the sofa over there is Simon’s brother. (The man who is sitting …)
  • Don’t forget to fill in the form attached to the letter. (… which is attached to the letter.)
See also
  • Although or though?
  • Finite clauses
  • Relative clauses