Chapter 8 presents a summary of the findings. The limitations of the study are also discussed, including the subtle nature of function, more cross-linguistic verification, comparisons in greater detail, the need for both diachronic and synchronic investigations, and so on. More significantly, spoken language should also be taken into consideration for further improvement.

With a sketch of the debate over the finite/non-finite distinction, Chapter 1 introduces the motivation, purpose, research questions, methodology and L10layout of this study. After pointing out the controversy over non-finiteness in linguistics, four research questions are raised: In what way is the finite and non-finite distinction universal? In what context can non-finiteness be positioned and identified? How does non-finiteness function for inter-clausal connectivity? How will the controversial issues of non-finiteness in English and Chinese be dealt with?

Clause combining, or clause linkage, is traditionally analysed on the syntactic, semantic and prosodic (spoken) levels, and the combinations are called complex sentences in many popular grammars. What is widely accepted today is that clause combining or clause linkage should be understood as mechanisms of connecting clauses rather than sentences. Since the clause is the most fundamental grammatical unit, Chapter 5 considers how non-finiteness plays its role in clause combining from the process-relation perspective. Three types of clause relations are proposed: paratactic, circumstantial and participantial. Non-finite clauses act as the bridges in clause combining viewed from the perspective of metaphoric syndrome. Thus, an answer to the third research question (How does non-finiteness function for inter-clausal connectivity?) is provided.

It is pervasive today in studies of the Chinese language for spoken instances to be used to support both spoken and written grammars. As made clear in Chapter 3, spoken and written languages require different grammars. Based on the process relations, controversial constructions in written Chinese are analysed in Chapter 7. These constructions include the following in which non-finiteness plays an indispensable role: serial verb construction, the so-called pivotal construction, existential construction, and other controversial constructions. In Chapters 6 and 7, the controversial issues of non-finiteness in English and Chinese are dealt with from the process-relation perspective and new findings are presented. Thus, the answer to the fourth research question is given.

It seems that non-finite clauses in English can be easily identified with the help of morphological indicators, but the fact is that non-finite clauses are often ambiguous in meaning and intermediate in construction. Chapter 6 revisits the controversial English constructions with non-finiteness according to the definition, construction types and principles proposed in the previous chapters. The process-relation perspective provides a good answer for the controversial issues in the causative and non-causative constructions, the serial verb construction, the absolute construction, and other ambiguous non-finite constructions.

As perhaps the most comprehensive review of non-finiteness so far, Chapter 2 starts by reviewing the mentions of non-finiteness in the early history of English grammar writing (from 1785), then it digs into the studies of non-finiteness in the following theories: morphology-based traditional grammar, typological perspective, form-based generative grammar, meaning-based cognitive grammar, meaning- and form-based systemic functional grammar, semiotic grammar, role and reference grammar, functional discourse grammar, construction grammar and other approaches. A summary of the enlightening views is provided at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 4 is intended to figure out in what contexts non-finiteness can be positioned and identified. With the theoretical foundation in Chapter 3, eight constructions are proposed in which the occurrences of non-finiteness may be predicted. Among the eight constructions, the basic construction is fundamental; constructions of the para-relation of processes, the hypo-relation of processes, and the conflated participant reveal complexity in process itself; constructions of process as primary participant, secondary participant, and circumstance reveal the nexus of functional components, and the construction of the triple participant shows how more than two participants get involved in a construction.

Chapter 3 targets the theoretical issues underlying non-finiteness. It is argued that spoken and written language should be distinguished because they require different grammars. With the wisdom in current literature and with the focus on written language, this chapter elaborates on cryptotype and cline, metafunctions as universal categories, process as the basic semantic unit, clause as the basic syntactic unit, ideational grammatical metaphor as the mechanism, two principles in constructional tendency, the difference between rankshifting and embedding, and a new definition of non-finiteness. Thus, the answer is provided to the question: In what way is the finite/non-finite distinction universal?