Download What are finite and non

Grammar Toolkit
What are
finite and
non-finite verbs?
Grammar Toolkit
Verbs have different forms because an
action — such as dancing — can be
described in different ways.
Zeke is dancing.
Zeke dances.
Zeke danced.
Zeke has danced.
Zeke must dance.
Zeke is going to dance.
Zeke will dance.
Grammar Toolkit
The main clause of a sentence
needs a verb with a subject and with a tense, to
locate the action in time.
Tayla danced
The verb and subject make sense together.
A non-finite verb doesn’t have a
subject or tense and cannot be
the main verb in a clause.
Tayla to dance
The verb doesn’t make sense with a subject.
Grammar Toolkit
There are two kinds of non-finite verbs:
infinitives and participles.
An infinitive is the basic form of a verb —
the verb can’t get any smaller.
to look to touch to clean to cook
An infinitive is often preceded by to.
Grammar Toolkit
The present participle is the basic verb
plus ing. It shows that an action is occurring.
looking touching cleaning cooking
This form of the verb can also be used as a
noun, in which case it is called a gerund.
Cooking is my favourite hobby.
It can also be used as an adjective, in which
case it is called a verbal adjective.
I should open a cooking school!
Grammar Toolkit
For most verbs, the past participle is the basic verb
plus ed. It’s the same as the past tense of the verb
and shows that an action has been completed.
looked touched cleaned cooked
For some verbs with more than one syllable,
the final consonant is doubled. Check a
dictionary for the spelling of past participles.
preferred travelled hiccupped
Grammar Toolkit
Form the infinitives and participles of these verbs.
infinitive
to + infinitive
present participle
past participle
skip
to skip
skipping
skipped
fire
to fire
firing
fired
paint
to paint
painting
painted
adore
to adore
adoring
adored
babble
to babble
babbling
babbled
Grammar Toolkit
• Verbs have different forms.
• A finite verb is a verb with a subject and tense.
• A non-finite verb doesn’t have a subject or tense
and cannot be the main verb in a sentence.
• Non-finite verbs are either:
- infinitives (basic verb, often preceded by to)
- present participles (basic verb + ing ending)
- past participles (basic verb + ed ending).
• Present participles can also act as nouns (gerunds)
and adjectives (verbal adjectives).
Grammar Toolkit