FINITE AND NON FINITE VERBS

FINITE VERBS

DEFINITION:

Finite verbs (sometimes called main verbs) are verb forms suitable for use in predicates in that they carry inflections or other formal characteristics limiting their number(singular / plural), person, and tense(past / present etc). Finite verbs can function on their own as the core of an independent sentence. 

MORE EXAMPLES:

• "The base, third person singular, and past tense are finite forms of verbs because they can be contrasted for tense (present and past), and marked for person (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) and number (singular and plural).

I drive a car. [1st person, singular, present tense]
he drives a car. [3rd person, singular. present tense]
I/he drove a car. [1st and 3rd person, singular, past tense]

These three forms of the verb paradigm do not require additional helping verbs to express their meanings."

• "Finite verbs can be recognized by their form and their position in the sentence. Here are some of the things to look for when you are trying to identify the finite verbs in a sentence:
1. Most finite verbs can take an -ed or a -d at the end of the word to indicate time in the past: cough, coughed; celebrate, celebrated. A hundred or so finite verbs do not have these endings.

2. Nearly all finite verbs take an -s at the end of the word to indicate the present when the subject of the verb is third-person singular: cough, he coughs; celebrate, she celebrates. The exceptions are auxiliary verbs like can and must. Remember that nouns can also end in -s. Thus the dog races can refer to a spectator sport or to a fast-moving third-person singular dog.

3. Finite verbs are often groups of words that include such auxiliary verbs as can, must, have, and be: can be suffering, must eat, will have gone.

4. Finite verbs usually follow their subjects: He coughs. The documents had compromised him. They will have gone.

5. Finite verbs surround their subjects when some forms of a question are asked: Is he coughing? Did they celebrate?

NON FINITE VERBS

DEFINITION:

A non-finite verb is a verb that does not function as the predicate verb in a clause. While some non-finite verbs take the form of past or present participles, they are generally not inflected—that is, they don’t have mood, tense, number, aspect, gender, or person.
The opposite of a non-finite verb is a finite verb, which does serve as a predicate verb—for example, the verbs in She walks, He sings, and I went.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF NON-FINITE VERBS:

1)      Gerunds

A gerund is an -ing verb that functions as a noun—for example:

1.      Are you into reading?

2.      Sailing is my favorite sport.

When the same words are used as adjectives, they are participles.

2)      Infinitives

Infinitives are non-inflected verbs that are often preceded by to. They may function as adverbs:

1.      I struggle to understand.

2.      They may function as nouns:

3.      To read is good for the mind.

And they may function as adjectives:

1.      I don’t have time to eat.

3)      Participles

Participles are -ed and -ing verbs that function as adjectives—for example:

1.      The sleeping cat is brown.

2.      The freshly picked tomatoes look delicious.

3.      I am going to the store.

4.      The kids were dropped off at school.

4)      Non-finite clauses

A non-finite clause is a dependent clause whose main verb is non-finite. It may function as a noun, adjective, or adverb:

1.      Your calling me was very considerate.

2.      The firetruck, blaring its siren, sped down the road.

3.      We wanted to bring you a present.