英语口语中的非谓语结构

Nonfinite Verbs: An Introduction to Non-Predicate Structures in Spoken English

In spoken English, nonfinite verbs play a crucial role in various sentence structures. Nonfinite verbs are verbs that do not function as the main predicate of a sentence but instead take on other forms and functions. There are three main types of nonfinite verbs: infinitives, gerunds, and participles.

Infinitives are the base form of a verb preceded by "to." They can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence. For example, "To swim is my favorite hobby." Here, "to swim" functions as a noun, serving as the subject of the sentence. Another example is "I need a book to read." In this case, "to read" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "book." Infinitives can also be used after certain verbs like "want," "hope," "decide," etc. For instance, "I want to go to the park."

Gerunds, on the other hand, are verbs ending in "-ing" that function as nouns. They can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence. For example, "Swimming is good exercise." Here, "swimming" is the subject. "I enjoy reading books." In this sentence, "reading" is the object. Gerunds are often used after prepositions as well. Like "She is good at singing."

Participles are verbs that can function as adjectives. There are two types of participles: present participles (ending in "-ing") and past participles (usually ending in "-ed," "-en," "-n," "-ne," or "-t"). Present participles describe an action that is ongoing or currently happening. For example, "The running water is very soothing." Here, "running" describes the water. Past participles often describe a completed action or a state. For instance, "The broken window needs to be repaired." "Broken" describes the state of the window.

Nonfinite verbs are commonly used in spoken English to make sentences more concise and to express various meanings. They allow us to avoid repeating the main verb and add more variety to our speech. For example, instead of saying "I like to swim and I like to play basketball," we can simply say "I like swimming and playing basketball." This makes the sentence flow more smoothly.

In addition, nonfinite verbs are often used in idiomatic expressions and phrasal verbs. For example, "get tired of doing something" (using the gerund "doing"), "go on doing something" (using the present participle "doing"), or "have something done" (using the past participle "done"). These expressions add color and nuance to our spoken language.

When using nonfinite verbs in spoken English, it's important to pay attention to subject-verb agreement and proper placement within a sentence. Make sure that the nonfinite verb agrees with the subject in number and tense. Also, make sure that the nonfinite verb is placed in the correct position to convey the intended meaning.

In conclusion, nonfinite verbs are an essential part of spoken English. They offer flexibility and variety in sentence structure and help us express ourselves more effectively. By understanding and using nonfinite verbs correctly, we can enhance our spoken English and communicate more clearly with others. So, next time you speak, don't forget to incorporate these non-predicate structures and make your language more engaging and dynamic!