Non-finite clause or to-infinitive?

Question

I'm analysing this sentence complex in terms of sentence trees and am a bit at a loss here.

He began to swim again, feeling suddenly the desperate exhaustion of his body.

In the part "He began to swim again," is the "to swim again" a nonfinite clause or just a bare infinitive? 
Do I write the tree as S --- Cl1 (He began) and then two subordinate semi-clauses Cl2 (to swim again) Cl3 (feeling suddenly....)

OR

Is it Main clause (He began to swim again) with one subordinate nonfinite clause (feeling suddenly...)?

Shalvin Kumar · Answer

(He began) is the main clause and (to swim again) is an independent clause.

Matt · Answer

You are right. "He began" has a subject and verb - independent clause. It can be said by itself.

"to swim" is non-finite clause - dependent clause
"Feeling suddenly ..." is another non-finite clause - dependent clause

The question to ask when distinguishing a dependent and independent is whether there is a subject.

Is there a subject next to the verb? 
Also, can that part of the sentence exist by itself i.e. be independent. "He began" ,although awkward, does makes sense, but "to swim" and "feeling suddenly..." cannot

In particular "to any verb" e.g. to swim, to run, are always dependent. They are timeless and need to go with something.

Another example:

He wondered whether to go to the beach, looking at the clouds.

Non-finite clause or to-infinitive?

2 Answers

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question