nonfinitisiin

Nonfinitisiin is a term used in theoretical linguistics to denote a class of nonfinite verb forms that function in subordinate or adjunct clauses without making the main clause finite. The category is intended to cover a range of nonfinite realizations—such as participles, infinitives, and converbs—that primarily express aspect, modality, or temporal relations rather than assert a finite tense for the subject of the main clause. The name blends the idea of nonfinite forms with a plural-sounding suffix to emphasize a cross-linguistic or cross-formanual grouping rather than a single morphological pattern.

In typological discussions, nonfinitisiin forms are characterized by their nonfinite status in syntax and their ability to occur in a variety of subordinate positions, including adverbial and complement clauses. They typically do not assign tense or person to the main clause and may bear aspectual or mood information that is checked against the connected clause rather than the main predicate. The exact morphosyntactic realization of nonfinitisiin forms varies across languages, reflecting diverse strategies for encoding nonfinite predication.

Examples are often drawn from well-known nonfinite constructions. In English, participial clauses such as Having finished the work, she rested illustrate a nonfinite form functioning in a complex predication. Infinitival or converbal forms in other languages likewise serve similar roles, linking actions and timelines without creating a finite clause on their own. As a theoretical label, nonfinitisiin remains a topic of cross-linguistic discussion and is not universally standardized.

See also: Nonfinite clause, Participle, Infinitive, Converb.