Notes | Tutorial 20

finite verb needs a subject

• explain doesn’t have a subject
• finite verb: action actually happening
• not an explain action in “i can explain”
• second way (explain I can) is conceptually nice but not grammatically accurate structure wise
• finite vs non-finite not particularly well covered - wiki has some good grammar stuff

I can explain the acronyms if need be

can
    i
    explain
        acronyms
            the

non-finite verbs can play a noun role (has to be gerund or infinitive)

verbal: means nonfinite verb

infinitives don’t need ‘to’ - if a verbal isn’t a gerund but is playing a noun role it must be an infinitive

what thing is doing what action at a specified point in time

a finite verb is bounded (not partial)

the nonfinite verb has some unbound aspect/parameter. often this relates to the timing, but can have subject (uncommon) or object (common) too

“need be” as verb + auxverb can’t be under ‘if’ as preposition

need could be an infinitive - but where does ‘be’ go

be -> synonym for exists -> ‘need exists’ -> ….

be - present subjunctive

ET: learn faster by focusing on simpler cases

error: if as preposition -> more practice to become automatic

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