We use verbs all the time. Did you know that there are two types of verbs? Finite and non-finite verbs are two different forms of verbs that are very different from each other. As English learners, you must learn that a subject and a verb together make a sentence complete. This blog will help you learn about the usage of two types of verbs - finite and non-finite verbs. At the end, there is an easy exercise on verbs with answers to test your knowledge.
Table of Contents
Finite and non-finite verbs are used differently with subjects in a sentence. Finite verbs are those that express the mood, tense, person, or a number in a sentence. Whereas, non-finite verbs are different as they don’t show a number, person, or the mood in a sentence. The sections below will tell you the difference between these two verb forms in English in detail:
A finite verb is defined by its ability to indicate a specific tense (past, present, or future) and to agree with its subject in terms of person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural).
Example Sentences:
She walks to school every day.
They were playing.
He likes to read.
There are three main types of non-finite verbs:
1. Infinitive: An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by the word “to.” For example, “to eat” or “to run.”
Example Sentences:
She loves to read poetry.
To succeed requires hard work.
2. Gerund: A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun.
Example Sentences:
Swimming is her favourite sport.
He enjoys writing stories.
3. Participle: A participle is a verb form that can be either present (ending in -ing) or past (often ending in -ed or -en) and functions as an adjective or as part of a verb phrase.
Example Sentences:
The singing bird woke me up.
The baked bread smelled delicious.
Using finite and non-finite verbs correctly is essential for clear communication and constructing grammatically sound sentences. Here’s how you can use them:
A finite verb is the core of a complete sentence because it shows tense and has a subject.
To Form a Complete Thought: Every complete sentence must contain at least one finite verb to express a full idea.
To Show Tense: Finite verbs change form to indicate past, present, or future tense.
To Agree with a Subject: A finite verb must agree with its subject in person and number.
To Work with Auxiliary Verbs: A finite verb can combine with a helping (or auxiliary) verb to form a complete verb phrase.
Non-finite verbs do not indicate tense or agree with a subject, which means they cannot function as the main verb of a sentence on their own. Instead, they serve as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. There are three types of non-finite verbs:
1. Infinitives
Infinitives are the base form of a verb, typically preceded by "to."
As a noun: An infinitive can be the subject or object of a sentence.
As an adjective: An infinitive can modify a noun.
As an adverb: An infinitive can explain why or for what purpose something was done.
As a bare infinitive (without "to"): This form typically follows certain verbs like "do," "make," "let," "help," or modal auxiliaries like "can," "could," "will," and "would."
2. Gerunds
Gerunds are verbs ending in "-ing" that function as nouns.
As the subject of a sentence:
As the object of a sentence:
As the object of a preposition:
3. Participles
Participles are used as adjectives or to help form verb tenses.
Present participles (ending in "-ing"):
Past participles (usually ending in "-ed," "-d," "-t," "-en," or "-n"):
To use the finite and non-finite verbs correctly in English sentences, you must follow the rules below:
1. In any sentence, a finite verb must agree with the subject in person, tense, and number.
2. These verbs must agree or conjugate with the subject.
3. Finite verbs should be used in the correct context and tense according to the subject of the sentence.
1. Non-finite verbs cannot stand alone as the main verb in a sentence.
2. They can also act as nouns, adjectives, or a part of verb sentences.
3. They can be used in non-finite phrases or clauses and can be in ‘ing’ forms.
These are the rules you must follow while using finite and non-finite verbs. The difference between the two is explained in the section below.
Also Read: Formal Letter Writing
As noted before, non-finite verbs are very different from finite verbs. A sentence is complete with a finite verb alone. However, a non-finite verb is not sufficient to complete the sentence alone. Here is the difference between finite and non-finite verbs in detail:
|
Feature |
Finite Verbs |
Non-Finite Verbs |
|
Main Function |
Acts as the root or main verb of a sentence and forms an independent clause. A sentence requires at least one finite verb to be complete. |
It cannot be the main verb of a sentence. It functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb. |
|
Types |
Includes present and past tense verb forms. Forms can be single-word verbs (e.g., ran) or multi-word verb phrases (e.g., have been waiting). |
Comes in three forms: l Infinitive: The base form of a verb, often preceded by "to" (e.g., to run). l Gerund: The -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun (e.g., running). l Participle: The -ing or -ed form of a verb that functions as an adjective (e.g., running water, broken vase). |
|
Tense |
Shows tense (past, present, or future) and indicates when the action occurs. |
Does not express tense on its own. The sentence's overall tense is determined by the finite verb. |
|
Subject |
A finite verb agrees with its subject in person and number (e.g., she runs vs. they run). |
A non-finite verb does not agree with a subject and is not limited by person or number. |
|
Example |
In the sentence "He runs every day," "runs" is the finite verb. |
In the sentence "He wants to run a marathon," "wants" is the finite verb, and "to run" is the non-finite verb. |
These were the differences between the finite and non-finite verbs. Now, let us test what you learnt in this blog. Solve the exercise below.
Also Read: Informal Letter Writing
English learners, here is an exercise to analyze your progress:
Exercise 1: Identify the verbs used in the sentences below as finite or non-finite:
1. I had a sandwich for breakfast yesterday
2. They brought us some bakery items
3. Getting down from the police jeep, he waved to the cameras
4. My uncle has decided to move to Australia next week
5. Zahara was happy to be there at her friend’s cultural gathering
6. Waking up from my long nap, I realized I was already late
7. My phone screen was broken
8. Gautam figured out a way to combine both our choices and set up a surprise party.
9. Skye, amazed at my writing, congratulated me on keeping up with the writing.
10. Being sick, Ali decided to go to the doctor.
Answer Key:
1. Had- finite verb
2. Brought- finite verb
3. Waved- finite verb; Getting down- non-finite verb
4. Have decided- finite verb; To move- non-finite verb
5. Was- finite verb; To be non-finite verb
6. Realized, was- finite verb; Waking up - non-finite verb
7. Noticed, were not, let- finite verb
8. Figured out, set up finite verb; To combine- non-finite verb
9. Congratulated, encouraged- finite verb; Amazed, to keep, writing- non-finite verb
10. Decided- finite verb; Being, to take- non-finite verb
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with finite and non-finite verbs
Read through each sentence carefully and fill in the blanks with the correct finite or non-finite form of the verbs given in brackets.
1. Nivedita _______ (work) at LinkedIn, Hyderabad.
2. Your hair _______ (look) great today.
3. The pilot _______ (greet) and _______ (wish) everyone a safe and happy flight.
4. The coach _______ (ask) all the players to get to their places.
5. _______ she _______ (bring) all the necessary documents for the verification?
6. All the people have been advised _______ (stay) indoors in order _______ (avoid) anyone _______ (get) sick.
7. Rachel and Chandler did not think it would be easy _______ (carry) the couch upstairs as Ross said.
8. Wahib wanted _______ (meet) as many people as possible and make friends as he was new to the place.
9. _______ (satisfy) with our work, our teacher gave us chocolates _______ (appreciate) and encourage us.
10. My brother wanted me _______ (buy) him a pair of rider gloves and a riders jacket.
Answers:
1. Nivedita works at LinkedIn, Hyderabad.
2. Your hair looks great today.
3. The pilot greeted and wished everyone a safe and happy flight.
4. The coach asked all the players to get to their places.
5. Has she brought all the necessary documents for the verification?
6. All the people have been advised to stay indoors in order to avoid getting sick.
7. Rachel and Chandler did not think it would be easy to carry the couch upstairs, as Ross said.
8. Wahib wanted to meet as many people as possible and make friends as he was new to the place.
9. Satisfied with our work, our teacher gave us chocolates to appreciate and encourage us.
10. My brother wanted me to buy him a pair of riding gloves and a rider’s jacket.
To sum up, finite and non-finite verbs are two types of verbs. You must know how to use them correctly and must adhere to the English grammar rules. Moreover, as English learners, you can also learn English language different aspects of English language to become a fluent English language user.
Q1. How Are Finite Verbs Used?
Finite verbs always work with a subject and agree with it. To use a finite verb in a sentence, ensure that this verb can allow the clause to stand as an independent clause.
Q2. What Is the Difference Between an Infinitive and a Non-Finite Verb?
An infinitive is a type of non-finite verb, representing a verb form that does not show tense, person, or number and cannot function as the main verb of a sentence.
Q3. How to Identify Finite and Non-finite Verbs?
Finite verbs go with the subject of a sentence. They show a tense, a person, or a number. However, the non-finite verbs do not agree with the subject and don’t show any person, number, or tense.
Q4. What are Gerund and Examples?
A gerund is a verb with an “ing” in the ending. It also functions as a noun in a sentence. Here are some examples:
Q5. What is the Difference between Finite and Non-finite Verbs?
A finite verb is a type of verb that agrees with the subject of a sentence. It also indicates a tense, person, and a number. A non-finite verb does not show agreement with the subject and does not indicate a clear tense.
We are available in :
BangaloreAhmedabadJaipurHyderabadKeralaPuneChandigarhMumbaiGurgaonChennaiKolkataTrivandrumNoidaKochiCalicutKottayamKollamThrissurIndoreUdaipurdisclaimer:logos and other registered trademarks of universities used on this platform are held by their respective owners. Gradding does not claim ownership or association on them, and their use is purely for informational and illustrative purposes.
