Finite Verbs

Finite verb

Finite verb

The finite forms of a verb are the forms where the verb shows tense, person or number. Non-finite verb forms have no person or number, but some types can show tense.

• Finite verb forms include: I go, she goes, he went

• Non-finite verb forms include: to go, going, gone

A finite verb is a verb that is inflected for person and for tense according to the rules and categories of the languages in which it occurs. Finite verbs can form independent clauses, which can stand on their own as complete sentences.

Example of finite verb :

• I study, she cook, Anto went

• Sidy has eaten when Rini come in. By it self, the verb form eaten is called a non-finite verb. When the auxiliary has and the non-finite verb eaten are put together, they make up a finite verb form has eaten.

• Tamara was walking. Walking is non-finite and was is to be. When they are put together, they make up finite form was walking

Definition of non-finite verb :

a verb has no subject, tense, or number. The only finite verb forms are the infinitive (indicated by to), the gerund or the participle (present/past), nonfinite verbs must ordinarily combine with a modal , an auxiliary verb, or the infinitival particle to.

Example of nonfinite verb

Verbs ending in -ing. These are called present participles, they were cooking in Sinta’s house.

This non-finite verb form end in -ed; many also end in en. These are called past participles. I have written my letter ( the past participle written is non-finite and can’t be the main verb).

Talking is the children’s favorite pastime. ( talking is a gerund, verb to be noun)

I can’t afford to go out tonight

The infinitive can have the following forms:

The perfect infinitive

to have + past participle

For example: to have broken, to have seen, to have saved.

This form is most commonly found in Type 3 conditional sentences, using the conditional perfect.

For example:

• If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake.

• Someone must have broken the window and climbed in.

• I would like to have seen the Taj Mahal when I was in India.

• He pretended to have seen the film.

• If I'd seen the ball I would have caught it