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FINITE AND NON-finite Verbs

The document discusses finite and non-finite verbs. Finite verbs show tense and change based on the subject's person, number and gender. Non-finite verbs do not show tense and do not change based on the subject. There are three types of non-finite verbs: infinitives, gerunds and present participles. Infinitives use "to" and don't change. Gerunds end in "-ing" and function as nouns. Present participles also end in "-ing" but function as adjectives. The difference between gerunds and present participles is that gerunds act as nouns while present participles act as adjectives.

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Bhavika Karani
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8K views2 pages

FINITE AND NON-finite Verbs

The document discusses finite and non-finite verbs. Finite verbs show tense and change based on the subject's person, number and gender. Non-finite verbs do not show tense and do not change based on the subject. There are three types of non-finite verbs: infinitives, gerunds and present participles. Infinitives use "to" and don't change. Gerunds end in "-ing" and function as nouns. Present participles also end in "-ing" but function as adjectives. The difference between gerunds and present participles is that gerunds act as nouns while present participles act as adjectives.

Uploaded by

Bhavika Karani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FINITE AND NON-FINITE VERBS

Verbs can be divided into two categories:

 Finite verbs: A verb which shows time or a verb which is limited by number, person, and gender of the subject is
known as a Finite verb.
1. Neha letters.
2. They letters.
3. We have letters
4. I shall letters

In the given examples, the verb ‘write’ has been changed according to the number, person, and tense of the subject. So
the various forms of the verb ‘write’ are examples of Finite Verbs. Note: All lexical verbs including ‘be’ and its forms are
Finite Verbs

 Non-finite verbs: A verb that does not show time or a verb which is not limited by number, person, and tense of
the subject is known as a Non-Finite verb.
1. Raman tries to
2. We try to .
3. They try to .
4. They will try to .
5. I have tried .

In the above sentences, the verb ‘eat’ does not change even though the person and number of the subject change.

https://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-finite-non-finite-verb.php

Non-finite verbs are of three kinds:

 Infinite: It is often used with ‘to’ or without ‘to’. Infinitives with ‘to’ before them are called ‘to-infinitives’.
Example: She wants to reach home quickly.
Root Verb Infinitive
Write To write
Speak To speak
Love To love
Give To give
Play To play

 Gerund: It is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the root verb.


Example: Reading is a pleasure for some people.

In the above sentence, the word reading is a gerund as they function as nouns in their respective sentences.

Root Verb Gerund


Write Writing
Speak Speaking
Love Loving
Give Giving
Play Playing

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/gerunds-and-infinitives-exercise-1.html
 Present Participle: It is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the root verb.
Example: The dying man called his sons to him.

In the sentence, the word ‘dying’ function as an adjective for they qualify their respective nouns man hence they are
called participles (ing/V3 form of the verb).

Root Verb Present Participle


Write Writing
Speak Speaking
Love Loving
Give Giving
Play Playing

What is the difference between Gerund and Present Participle?


https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=13039#a

The gerund and the Present participle have the same form but gerund is a verbal noun (What) and the Present Participle
is a verbal adjective. (How/which/Whose etc)

Examples:

1. Reading increases our knowledge. (gerund) - What increases our knowledge?


2. Reading the newspaper, he sat in the chair. (Present participle) How he sat on the chair?

In the first sentence, ‘reading’ is a gerund because it is the subject of the verb ‘increases’.
But in the second sentence, ‘reading the newspaper’ is a participle because it qualifies the pronoun ‘he’ as an adjective.

1. Typing is something I don’t do as well as I should. (gerund)


2. His typing speed was less than ideal. (present participle)

1. I find speaking stressful. (gerund)


2. The speaking engagement was for next Friday afternoon. (present participle)

https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/quizshow.php?title=grammar-mastery-quiz-chapter-17-participles-gerunds-
infinitives&q=1

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