Understanding Finite and non-Finite Verbs

I. Introduction

The Concept of Verbs in Grammar

Verbs are important parts of speech in the English language. They help convey actions, states of being, and events in a sentence. Verbs can be categorized into two main groups: finite verbs and non-finite verbs. In this introduction, we will explore the differences between these two types of verbs and how they function in sentences.

Definition of Finite and non-Finite Verbs

Here are definitions for finite and non-finite verbs in simple and easy-to-understand language:

Finite Verbs are verbs that show the action or state of the subject in a sentence and are affected by tense, person, and number. They change their form to match the subject and the time of the action.
non-Finite Verbs, on the other hand, are verbs in their base or unconjugated form, without changes for tense, person, or number.

II. What are Finite Verbs?

Finite verbs are a fundamental component of the English language, serving as the main action or state of being in a sentence. They possess distinct characteristics that set them apart:

Action or State Expression: They are the heart of a sentence, conveying the primary action or state of being.
Subject Agreement: They change their form to agree with the subject in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third person).
Tense Marking: These verbs indicate the timing of an action or state. They can be in different tenses, such as past, present, or future, reflecting when the action occurred or will occur. For instance, “He walked” uses the past tense, while “He will walk” uses the future tense.
Ability to Stand Alone: They can function as the main verb in a sentence, allowing the sentence to stand on its own as a complete thought. For example, in “She sings beautifully,” “sings” is a finite verb that expresses the action and makes the sentence meaningful by itself.
Essential in Questions and Negations: They are crucial in forming questions and negations. They play a pivotal role in altering sentence structure and meaning. For instance, “She sings” becomes “Does she sing?” in a question, and “She does not sing” in a negation, highlighting the importance of the finite verb “does.”

How Finite Verbs Change Form Based on the Subject and Tense

Finite verbs change their form based on both the subject and the tense of the sentence. Here’s how these changes occur:

Subject Agreement:
- Number Agreement: Finite verbs change their form to match the number of the subject. For singular subjects, verbs take one form, and for plural subjects, they take another form. For example:
  - Singular: She walks to school.
  - Plural: They walk to school.
- Person Agreement: Finite verbs also adapt to the person of the subject. English verbs distinguish between the first person (I/we), the second person (you), and the third person (he/she/it/they). The verb form varies accordingly:
  - First person: I walk to school.
  - Second person: You walk to school.
  - Third person: She walks to school.
Tense Marking:
- Past Tense: Finite verbs change to indicate that the action or state occurred in the past. Typically, this involves adding “-ed” to regular verbs or using irregular forms. For example:
  - Present: She walks to school.
  - Past: She walked to school.
- Present Tense: In the present tense, finite verbs remain in their base form for most subjects. However, there are exceptions for the third person singular, where an “s” is added:
  - I walk to school.
  - He walks to school.
- Future Tense: Finite verbs can also indicate actions or states that will happen in the future. This often involves using auxiliary verbs like “will” or “shall” combined with the base form of the main verb:
  - I will walk to school.
  - They shall walk to school.

Examples of Finite Verbs in Sentences

Here are examples of finite verbs in sentences:

Present Tense:
- She walks to school every morning.
- They study for their exams diligently.
Past Tense:
- He visited the museum last weekend.
- We watched a fascinating movie yesterday.
Future Tense:
- I will travel to Europe next summer.
- They shall meet us at the airport tomorrow.
Subject-Verb Agreement:
- She bakes delicious cakes for her friends. (Singular subject)
- They bake delicious cakes for their friends. (Plural subject)
Question Formation:
- Does she like chocolate ice cream?
- Will you attend the meeting tomorrow?
Negation:
- He does not enjoy spicy food.
- We haven’t seen that movie yet.
Modal Verbs (verbs that express possibility, necessity, etc.):
- She can speak three languages fluently.
- You must complete your homework before going out.

These examples showcase finite verbs in various tenses, subject-verb agreement, questions, negations, and the use of modal verbs, illustrating how finite verbs play a crucial role in conveying the timing and nature of actions or states in sentences.

III. What are non-finite Verbs?

Non-Finite verbs, also known as non-finite verbs or base verbs, are verbs in their most basic and unconjugated form. Unlike finite verbs, they do not change to indicate tense, person, or number. non-Finite verbs have distinct characteristics:

Base Form: non-Finite verbs are the simplest form of verbs, often represented by the “to” form, such as “to walk,” “to eat,” or “to read.”
No Subject Agreement: non-Finite verbs do not agree with the subject of the sentence. They remain the same regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural, first person or third person.
Versatility: non-Finite verbs are versatile and can be used in various ways within sentences. They can function as nouns (infinitive nouns), adjectives (infinitive adjectives), or adverbs (infinitive adverbs) to modify or describe other elements in a sentence.
Role in Verb Phrases: non-Finite verbs often combine with auxiliary verbs to form verb phrases that convey complex actions, intentions, or possibilities. For example, “I will eat” uses the infinitive “eat” in combination with the auxiliary verb “will” to indicate a future action.
Imperative Mood: non-Finite verbs are commonly used in the imperative mood to give commands or make requests. For instance, “Please, take a seat” uses the infinitive “take” to express the command.
Gerunds and Participles: Gerunds and present participles are forms of non-finite verbs. Gerunds function as nouns and typically end in “-ing,” as in “Swimming is fun.” Present participles are used in continuous tenses and adjectives, like “The running water” or “The spoken words.”

Explanation of the Basic Forms of non-Finite Verbs:

Let’s explore the basic forms of non-finite verbs: the base form, the to-infinitive, and the -ing form (gerunds and present participles):

Base Form:
- The base form of an infinitive verb is the simplest and most fundamental form of the verb. It is the form you would find in the dictionary and is often used as the root of other verb forms.
- Example: “walk” (base form)
- Usage: The base form is commonly used in the imperative mood for giving commands or instructions.
  - Example: “Please, walk quietly.”
To-Infinitive:
- The to-infinitive is formed by adding the word “to” before the base form of the verb. It is used in various sentence structures and has multiple functions.
- Example: “to walk” (to-infinitive of “walk”)
- Usage:
  - To express purpose or intention:
    - Example: “She went to the store to buy groceries.”
  - After certain verbs like “want,” “need,” and “like”:
    - Example: “I want to learn Spanish.”
  - As a subject or object of a sentence:
    - Subject: “To study is important.”
    - Object: “She likes to swim.”
-ing Form (Gerunds and Present Participles):
- The -ing form is created by adding “-ing” to the base form of the verb. It serves different purposes as gerunds and present participles.
- Example: “walking” (gerund/present participle of “walk”)
- Gerunds:
  - Gerunds are -ing forms of verbs that function as nouns in a sentence. They can serve as subjects, objects, or complements.
  - Example as subject: “Walking is good exercise.”
  - Example as object: “She enjoys swimming.”
  - Example as complement: “His favorite activity is hiking.”
- Present Participles:
  - Present participles are -ing forms used to create continuous tenses and function as adjectives to describe nouns.
  - Example in continuous tense: “They are walking to the park.”
  - Example as an adjective: “The running water sounded soothing.”

Examples of non-Finite Verbs in Sentences

Here are examples of infinitive verbs in sentences, including the base form, to-infinitive, gerunds, and present participles:

Base Form:
- He likes to dance at parties.
- Please, sing your favorite song.
- They often swim in the lake.
To-Infinitive:
- She wants to travel around the world.
- I need to finish my homework.
- It’s important to exercise regularly.
Gerunds:
- Swimming is her favorite sport.
- I enjoy reading books in my free time.
- Cooking can be a relaxing hobby.
Present Participles:
- The running water in the stream is crystal clear.
- The dancing flames of the campfire mesmerized us.
- The howling wind made the night seem eerie.

The Role of non-Finite Verbs in Sentences, often as Complements to Main Verbs

Non-Finite verbs play various roles in sentences, often serving as complements to main verbs. These roles contribute to the richness and complexity of sentence structure and meaning. Here’s how infinitive verbs function, particularly as complements:

As Complements to Main Verbs:
- Infinitive verbs are frequently used as complements that follow certain main verbs, helping to complete the meaning of the sentence.
- Example with “want”: “She wants to learn the piano.” In this case, “to learn” is the infinitive complement, completing the verb “wants” by specifying what she desires.
- Example with “need”: “He needs to finish the project by tomorrow.” The infinitive complement “to finish” clarifies what he needs to do.
Expressing Purpose or Intent:
- Infinitive complements often indicate the purpose or intent behind an action.
- Example: “They visited the museum to appreciate the artwork.” Here, “to appreciate” shows the purpose of their visit.
After Modal Verbs:
- Modal verbs like “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “must,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” and “would” are often followed by infinitive verbs.
- Example: “You can swim in the pool.” In this case, “can” is a modal verb, and “swim” is the infinitive verb expressing ability.
After Certain Adjectives:
- Some adjectives are followed by infinitive complements to describe or clarify the quality expressed by the adjective.
- Example: “She was happy to receive the award.” Here, “to receive” explains why she was happy.
After Nouns:
- Infinitive complements can follow nouns and function as modifiers.
- Example: “The decision to postpone the meeting was wise.” Here, “to postpone” modifies the noun “decision.”
In the Passive Voice:
- Infinitive verbs can also be used in the passive voice to describe actions or states without specifying the doer.
- Example: “The cake needs to be baked for 30 minutes.”

Infinitive verbs, often as complements to main verbs, enhance sentence structure and meaning. They provide information about purpose, intent, ability, or necessity and are used in various contexts to add depth and clarity to the message conveyed in a sentence.

IV. Comparing Finite and non-Finite Verbs

Here’s a tabular representation summarizing the differences in usage, form, and function between finite and non-finite verbs:

Aspect	Finite Verbs	non-Finite Verbs
Usage	Used to express specific actions, states, or events with specific details	Used to express general actions, purposes, desires, or conditions.
Form	Change form based on tense, person, and number to agree with	Remain in base form, not affected by tense, person, or number.
Function in Sentences	Essential for forming complete sentences. Can stand alone as the main verb in a sentence.	Can be used in sentence fragments and have various roles within sentences.
Subject Agreement	Agree with the subject in terms of number and person.	Do not agree with the subject; subject characteristics do not affect them.
Expressing Time	Indicate when an action occurred (past, present, future).	Do not indicate specific timing on their own.
Examples	She walks to school every day.	She likes to walk in the park.
	They will study for the exam.	To study effectively, they need quiet.
	He danced at the party last night.	Dancing is his favorite hobby.”

This table provides a concise overview of how finite and non-finite verbs differ in their usage, form, and function within sentences.

Read a a full list of grammar topics for better understanding of English grammar.