Non-finite clauses (infinitive, gerund, present participle) and speech

The aim of the thesis "Non-finite clauses (infinitive, gerund, present participle) and speech" is to describe the occurence and the use of the non-finite clauses in spoken French. The situation of the non-finite clauses in speech is established by means of the analysis of the essay "Usage du gérondif et du participe présent en francais parlé et écrit : étude comparée basée sur corpus" and the inquiry. Another aim is to suggest various expressions that could replace the non-finite clauses. These expressions result from the inquiry that was made with only natives speakers responding. We also try to consider the influence of different aspects such as age, profession, nationality on the usage of the the non-finite clauses. The conclusions that we come to in the thesis should enlighten the situation of the non-finite clauses infinitive, gerund, present participle in spontaneous speech and they could also serve as a tool for French teachers in the form of a review of the present state of the issue in spoken French. KEYWORDS non-finite clause, infinitive, gerund, present participle, speec