Clauses with finite/non-finite verb form

Subordinate clauses with a finite verb type (Finitsätze)

The majority of the subordinate clauses contain one finite verb form. These clauses follow the word order type 3 (Stellungstyp 3) i.e. the finite verb form is at the final position of the clause. Their syntactic roles include those of a subject, an object, an adverbial and an attributive adjective.

Subordinate clauses with a non-finite verb form

Two kinds of subordinate clauses contain a non-finite verb form, the infinitive clauses and the participle clauses. Infinitive clauses are further classified in those that are introduced by a conjunction and those that are not.

Infinitive clauses (Infinitivsätze)

Infinitive clauses contain an infinitive and the particle zu, along with all the arguments that are included in  subordinate clauses with a finite verb type (Finitsätze).

However, in contrast to the subordinate clauses with a finite verb type (Finitsätze), the subject is omitted in an infinitive clause. In infinitive clauses that are introduced by a conjunction, the omitted subject and the subject of the main clause are identical. In infinitive clauses that are not introduced by a conjunction, the subject of the infinitive clause is identical to the subject or the accusative or dative object of the main clause.

Infinitive clauses follow the word order type 3 (Stellungstyp 3) i.e. the non-finite verb form is in the final position of the subordinate clause. Zu always stands before the infinitive.

Infinitive clauses that are introduced by a conjunction function as adverbials. Infinitive clauses that are not introduced by a conjunction function as subjects and objects.

Participle clauses (Partizipialsätze)

Participle clauses (Partizipialsätze) contain a participle along with all the arguments (object and adverbials) that are included in the subordinate clauses with a finite verb form (Finitsätze).

However, in contrast to the subordinate clauses with a finite verb form, the subject of the participle clauses is omitted. The omitted subject is usually identical to the subject of the main clause.

Participle clauses function as adverbials or attributive adjectives.

Participle clauses (Partizipialsätze) as adverbials

Participle clauses (Partizipialsätze) that function as adverbials can express the following :

- manner

- time

- cause

- condition

- concession

Participle clauses (Partizipialsätze) as attributive adjectives

Participle clauses (Partizipialsätze) that function as attributive adjectives may precede a specific noun. In this case the participles are variable i.e. they are inflected like all adjectives according to the gender, case and number of the noun they govern. They also retain all the necessary complements and can be further expanded with more optional arguments.

Active-passive meaning simultaneity-anteriority

Participle clauses (Partizipialsätze) are formed with the present participle (Partizip I) or the past participle (Partizip II). The meaning of the participle clauses varies depending on the use of the present participle (Partizip I) or the past participle (Partizip II) and relating to the verb voice (active-passive) and the time (simultaneity-anteriority).

In addition, the meaning of the clause also depends on whether the verb from which the participle derives is transitive or intransitive.

If the verb is transitive, the present participle (Partizip I) has an active meaning and expresses simultaneity in regard to the main clause. On the contrary, the past participle (Partizip II) has a passive meaning and, as a rule, expresses anteriority.

If the verb from which the participle derives is intransitive, the present participle (Partizip I) has an active meaning and expresses simultaneity, in regard to the main clause. Intransitive verbs that form the present perfect with haben cannot form the past participle (Partizip II).

Only intransitive verbs that form the present perfect with the auxiliary verb sein can form the past participle (Partizip II). In this case, they have an active meaning and, as a rule, express anteriority.