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28.5: Part 1: 4 NP: SENTENCES AND INFINITIVE CLAUSES AS NOUN PHRASES

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    4 NP: SENTENCES AND INFINITIVE CLAUSES AS NOUN PHRASES

    In this course we're not going to ask you to produce many complex sentences in which a clause serves as an NP, but it is important for your reading and aural comprehension that you recognize such constructions. Furthermore, you will use two particular kinds (the complementary infinitive and the subordinate clause) fairly frequently as the direct object of the verb.

    As Subject (For Comprehension Only)

    The infinitive may be used as the subject of a sentence. Since it is "neutral"—no identifiable referent involved—it is often used for sayings.

    Vouloir c'est pouvoir. To will is to be able. (Where there's a will there's a way.)

    A clause may also function as the subject:

    Que Jean-Luc ne voulait pas partir était évident. That Jean-Luc didn't want to leave was obvious.

    As Complement (Direct Object)

    By far, the most common occurrence of clauses and infinitives as noun phrases is as the direct object of a verb. In this section, we simply want to present the general pattern to help you focus on how these constructions have a function similar to that of a noun phrase like son père. The details of infinitive constructions and of subordinate clauses are given in Sections 12.1 and 7.3.2.

    In the following examples, the verb is underlined and the DIRECT OBJECT is in capital letters.

    Le garçon aime SON PÈRE. (common NP is the object)
    Le garçon aime CHANTER. (infinitive is the object/complement)
    Je veux DU PAIN. (common NP is the object)
    Je veux ACHETER DU PAIN. (entire infinitive clause is the object of veux, du pain the object of acheter)
    Je veux QUE VOUS PARTIEZ TOUT DE SUITE. (entire subordinate clause is the object; tout de suite modifies partiez.)
    Elle dit "BONJOUR". (the quoted word is the object)
    Elle dit QUE JEAN EST MALADE. (the subordinate clause is the object)

    28.5: Part 1: 4 NP: SENTENCES AND INFINITIVE CLAUSES AS NOUN PHRASES is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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