7 English

Class Notes
Class: VII Topic: Finite and Non-finite Verbs
Subject: ENGLISH
Finite Verbs
In a sentence, there is normally at least one verb that has both a subject and a tense. When a verb
has a subject and a tense, it can be referred to as a finite verb.
Example:
We want Charlie to act as club secretary.
I like taking photographs of insects.
Coming home last night, I saw a deer run across the road.
Non-finite Verbs
A non-finite verb is a verb form that does not show tense. In other words, you cannot tell if a
sentence is in the past tense, present tense, or future tense by looking at a non-finite verb.
Therefore, a non-finite verb is never the main verb in a sentence.
The present, past and perfect participles, the infinitives and the gerunds are the most common of
these.
A verb is non-finite if it used

• Without the verb having a tense.
To open, tear off the tab. (infinitive)
Looking around, he noticed a letter on the floor.(present participle)
Worn out by the heat, they stopped for a drink.(past participle)
• With no agreement between the subject (if there is one) and the verb.
That plan failing, he gave up. (present participle)
Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. (gerund)
Our guests departed, we felt a little depressed. (past participle)
A compound verb is actually made up of one finite part, which is always the first auxiliary verb, while
the remaining non-finite parts are the base form or the participles. In the following examples the
finite part of the verb phrase is in red italic:
I may have been joking when I said that.
Helen was running around screaming.
I had been living in a dream for months.
Olivia is coming round at 6 o’clock this evening.
Non-finite Verbs
1. Infinitives: The infinitive verb is a non-finite verb that is formed by adding ‘to’ before the base
form of a verb.
Example-
He likes to play piano.
They want to go home.
People gathered here to hear the news.
These infinitives are called as ‘full infinitives’.
A bare infinitive is a verb form that is used without the word “to”. It is also known as a bare
verb or a bare-infinitive. For example
I let him go.
Let him sit there.
She made me cry.
I heard him sing a lovely song.
2. Gerunds: When ‘ing’ with the main verb works as a noun, it is called gerund. It is a verbal
noun. All gerunds include a verb and -ing.
Example-
I saw him playing.
Swimming is a good exercise for our body.
My hobby is reading.
We are fond of travelling.
Gerunds can serve several functions in sentences. They can be used as:
1. The Subject of a Verb
Sleeping whole day is bad for your health.
Meditating calms your nerves.
2. The Object of a Verb
Roma loves cooking.
Tilak hates talking.
3. Object of a Preposition
I'm very good at painting.
I'm afraid of swimming.
4. Subject Complement
The best thing about my trip to Japan was eating.
A good way to lose weight is exercising.
3. Participles: A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective or a verb. There are
three types of participles: the present participle (ending "-ing"), the past participle (usually
ending "-ed," "-d," "-t," "-en," or "-n") and the perfect participle (Having + V3).
Examples:
• A stirring dwarf we do allowance give before a sleeping giant.
(Here, there are two present participles functioning as adjectives.)
• Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

(Here, the past participle is functioning as an adjective.)
➢ Often, a participle heads up a participle phrase functioning as an adjective.

• Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.
• Connected" entirely by canals and footbridges, the Dutch village of Giethoorn has no roads.
➢ Participles are also used to form verb tenses.

• I was eating beans by candle light for a decade.
(Here, a present participle helps to form the past continuous tense.)
• The man has broken the vase.
(Here, the past participle helps to form present perfect tense.)
➢ Perfect Participle: It shows that one action will happen after the other.
• Having read the story, they were amazed.
• Having completed the work, she laid down for rest.
Finite Verbs Non-finite Verbs
• Finite verbs are used to represent • Non-finite verbs have no tense.

tense, person or number.
• Finite verbs take the simple present • Non-finite verbs can be used in their
and the simple past form of the gerund, infinitive, present participle,
particular verb. past participle or perfect participle
form.
• Finite verbs always agree with the • Non-finite verbs do not agree with
subject performing the action in the the subject in a sentence.
sentence.
• Most often, the finite verb can be • Non-finite verbs are sometimes
found next to the subject in a found in the beginning of a sentence.
sentence. In certain cases, the non-finite verb is
found immediately after the finite
verb in the sentence.
• A finite verb appears to be a part of • A non-finite verb often constitutes a
an independent clause and can help phrase and does not make sense
the clause stand alone by making when considered separately.
complete sense of what is being
conveyed,
Ex A. Underline the finite and circle the non-finite verbs in the following sentences.
1. Robin went to the store to buy some pens.
2. The traffic policeman saw an old man sitting in the pavement.
3. The girl was carrying a bouquet in her hand.
4. I forgot to post the letter.
5. The patient left the hospital cured.
6. The sun having risen, we returned home.
Ex B. Identify the non-finite verbs.
1. Hunting is prohibited.
2. I need to go to sleep.
3. I saw him running.
4. Flying makes me nervous.
5. I find speaking stressful.
6. This is an interesting book.
7. I love the noise of falling rain.
8. He was hopeless at writing letters.
9. We have to submit our assignment by Friday.
10. To win the match was my dream.

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Class Notes

Class: VII Topic: Finite and Non-finite Verbs

A verb is non-finite if it used

• Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

➢ Often, a participle heads up a participle phrase functioning as an adjective.

➢ Participles are also used to form verb tenses.

• Finite verbs are used to represent • Non-finite verbs have no tense.

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