What is a Finite Verb? Definition, Examples, And Worksheet

What is a Finite Verb?

A finite verb is a verb which agrees with the subject and shows past, present, or future tense in a sentence. It is the core of every phrase and can also work as the main verb. But not just that, finite verbs also show person (first, second, or third), and number (singular or plural) as well.

For example, Lisa ran to the bus. Here, the verb “ran” is agreeing with “Lisa” and is also indicating the past tense.

Finite verbs can also be a part of a verb phrase or an independent clause, which can make sense even if they stand alone. Below are a few finite verb definition as per different dictionaries:

1. Cambridge Dictionary: “Finite verb forms show tense, person and number (I go, she goes, we went, etc.)”
2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “of, relating to, or being a verb or verb form that can function as a predicate or as the initial element of one and that is limited (as in tense, person, and number)”

Note: Finite verbs can also be called tensed verbs or main verbs.

Key Characteristics of Finite Verbs

Since finite verbs are the core of a sentence and provide important grammatical information like tense and subject agreement. Understanding finite verb meaning as well as its characteristics can help you build grammatically correct sentences and convey actions, indicate time, or function correctly. Some of its main characteristics include:

1. It is the root verb which carries or drives the sentence.
2. Finite verbs change their form to meet the subject agreement. For example, I eat vs. he eats.
3. They also indicate the time of the action/ past, present, or future tense.
4. They can stand by themselves in a sentence and form the core/root of an independent clause.
5. In a sentence, if there is only one verb, then it is typically the finite verb.
6. Every sentence needs a finite verb. And almost every main verb in a sentence will either be or include a finite verb.
7. Lastly, we can use almost any English verb as a finite verb as long as it has a tense, subject, and agreement with the subject in a sentence.

Rules for Finite Verb

Yes, finite verb is an important part of the English language, and understanding finite verb definition and how they are different from non-finite verbs can require some focused attention. Using them in your everyday language is easy; all you have to do is keep in mind these few rules:

1. They come after the main subject of the sentence.
2. Sometimes, the subject of the infinite verb is not stated and is just assumed. For example, “will talk to you tomorrow.”
3. Finite words are generally one word, and with that, we can also determine the tense. For example, “Lucas was baking a cake,” Here the finite verb is “was”, which indicates past tense.
4. If we use two verbs in a sentence, the finite verb is generally going to be closest to the subject.
5. Unlike non-finite verbs, finite verbs are marked for grammatical features through changes in their form or through the use of auxiliary verbs.

How to Identify a Finite Verb

In cases of complex sentences or instances when non-finite verb forms are present, it can get a little difficult to identify finite verbs. However, they have their unique characteristics, which can help you identify them easily. Here are a few ways you can identify finite verbs in a sentence:

1. Identify the noun or pronoun acting.
2. Determine its tense by looking at the indicators of past, present, or future tense.
3. Check if the form of the verb is changing when you change the subject’s number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, third).
4. If the sentence has modal verbs (can, will, must, should, etc), then it is a finite verb.
5. Look for gerunds (verb+ing as a noun), infinitives (to + verb), and participles (verb+ed, verb+en, or irregular forms). These are not finite verbs and lack a subject or tense.

20 Examples of Finite Verb in Sentences

One thing you need to keep in mind is that in a sentence, the main verb, which identifies the action that is being done by the subject, is usually the finite verb. In addition to that, when using auxiliary verbs like we, have, must, and can in a phrase, they are generally called finite verbs.

To help you understand this better, below are 20 examples of finite verb across different settings so that you can understand their use better:

1. Shesings
2. She cooks dinner every evening.
3. They attended a meeting this morning.
4. He writes in his journal every night.
5. We have finished our homework.
6. The baby cried all night.
7. My friends are coming over later.
8. He was reading a novel.
9. I go to the gym regularly.
10. She has traveled to many countries.
11. The bus arrives at 7:30 AM.
12. They enjoyed the concert.
13. He is working on his science project.
14. I saw a rainbow after the storm.
15. We walked to school this morning.
16. The dog barks at strangers.
17. You should study for the test.
18. It rained heavily last night.
19. The teacher explains the lesson clearly.
20. I will call you later.

These are the 20 examples of finite verb. As you can see, in some sentences, there are helping (auxiliary) verbs and main verbs; both are finite if they show tense/agreement.

Common Mistakes with Finite Verbs

Now that you understand how to use finite verbs in a sentence, let’s take a look at some common mistakes you need to keep in mind and try to avoid:

1. Avoid inconsistent tense use and jumping between present, past, and future tenses within the same sentence.
2. Pay attention to irregular past tense verbs and make sure that you are using the correct form of past, past continuous, or past perfect tense.
3. Depending on the context, make sure to use the correct form of future tense with the help of "will" or "going to".
4. Finite verbs must always agree in number with their subject (e.g., "She plays" not "She play").

Finite Verbs Practice Exercises with Answers

Lastly, below are a few exercises that you can solve to test your understanding of finite verbs. You can take help from our finite verb examples above:

Exercise 1: Underline the Finite Verbs

In each of these sentences, you have to underline the correct finite verb or verbs in case there are two.

1. She walks to school every morning.

2. They were playing football in the park.

3. If he calls, let me know immediately.

4. The dog barked loudly at the stranger.

5. He has finished his homework.

6. I am going to the market now.

7. We should help those in need.

8. While I was reading, the lights went out.

9. She writes poems in her free time.

10. When the bell rang, the students stood up.

Answers: Exercise 1

1. She walks to school every morning.

2. They were playing football in the park.

3. If he calls, let me know immediately.

4. The dog barked loudly at the stranger.

5. He has finished his homework.

6. I am going to the market now.

7. We should help those in need.

8. While I was reading, the lights went out.

9. She writes poems in her free time.

10. When the bell rang, the students stood up.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks with Finite Verbs

In these sentences, you have to fill in each blank with the correct finite verb form of the verb in brackets. Just make sure that the verb is agreeing with the subject and is showing the correct tense.

1. She __________ to the gym every evening. (go)

2. They __________ a movie when I called. (watch)

3. I __________ my keys on the table. (leave)

4. The sun __________ in the east. (rise)

5. We __________ to the teacher’s instructions carefully. (listen)

6. He __________ late for school yesterday. (be)

7. The birds __________ south every winter. (fly)

8. My parents __________ in New York. (live)

9. I __________ him at the conference last year. (meet)

10. If it __________ tomorrow, we will cancel the trip. (rain)

Answers: Exercise 2

1. Goes

2. Were watching

3. Left

4. Rises

5. Listened

6. Was

7. Fly

8. Live

9. Met

10. Rains

Conclusion

In conclusion, a finite verb is the core of every sentence or phrase and is important for forming complete, independent clauses and full sentences. However, understanding how to use them correctly and distinguishing them from on-finite verbs can be a little difficult, especially if English is your second language. If you are someone who is struggling with understanding verbs or just wants to improve your English proficiency, then you can connect with our experts at Gradding.com. Their personalised guidance and academic support will make it easier for you to master grammar concepts like finite verbs.

FAQs

1. What is a Finite Verb and Examples?

A finite verb is a verb which shows past, present, or future tense and agrees with the subject in person and number. A finite verb can also work as the main verb in a sentence and is used to express a complete action or state. Examples of finite verb are:

• She calls every night. (present tense, agrees with "she")
• They went to the cafe yesterday. (past tense)
• I am happy. (present tense)

2. What are the Types of Finite Verbs?

There are two types of finite verbs based on function: main finite verbs and auxiliary finite verbs. The main finite verbs are used to carry the primary meaning of the sentence. Auxiliary finite verbs are used to assist the main verb in expressing grammatical aspects.

3. What is a Finite and Non-Finite Verb?

A finite verb changes its form based on tense, person, or number and can stand alone as the main verb of a sentence. On the other hand, a non-finite verb does not show tense and cannot function alone as the main verb.

4. What is the Difference Between an Infinitive and a Finite Verb?

The difference between a finite and an infinitive verb is that a finite verb shows tense and agrees with the subject (e.g. She sings). Whereas, an infinitive verb is the base form of the verb and does not change according to tense or subject.

5. How Can You Tell If a Verb Is Finite?

You can tell if a verb is finite if it:

• Shows tense (past, present, or future).
• Agrees with the subject in number (singular/plural) and person (first, second, third).
• It can stand alone as the main verb of a sentence or clause.