What rules govern the omission of the subject in non-finite clauses?


In non-finite clauses



the verb must be in a non-finite form (such as an infinitive, participle, gerund or gerundive), and it is consequently much more likely that there will be no subject expressed, i.e. that the clause will consist of a (non-finite) verb phrase on its own.



What rules govern the omission of the subject?


What about in the following, can the phrase ever be a clause?



  • could be important


I think so because "be" is the bare infinitive, so the verb is non-finite.




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