Write whether the underlined words in the following sentences are finite or non-finite. If they are non-finite, say whether they are infinitives, past participles, present participles or gerunds. Before doing this exercise you may want to review this lesson about identifying different types of non-finite verbs.

1. I am waiting to hear from my sister.

2. Running as fast as he could, he beat all his opponents.

3. Driven by hunger, he stole a piece of bread.

4. Smoking is injurious to health.

5. Swimming is a good exercise.

6. I enjoy painting.

7. Unable to bear the humiliation, he killed himself.

8. Working day and night, we finished the project before the deadline.

9. I heard them singing in the other room.

10. I told him to leave.

Answers

1. to hear (To hear is an infinitive.)

2. Running (Here running is a present participle; it connects the two clauses. He ran as fast as he could. He beat all his opponents.)

3. Driven (Here driven is a past participle; it connects the two clauses. He was driven by hunger. He stole a piece of bread.)

4. Smoking (Smoking is the subject of the verb is; hence it is a gerund.)

5. Swimming (Swimming is the subject of the verb is; hence, it is a gerund.)

6. painting (Painting is the object of the verb enjoy; hence it is a gerund.)

7. to bear (To bear is an infinitive.)

8. Working (Working is a present participle. It connects the two clauses.)

9. singing (Singing is the complement of the object them; it is a gerund.)

10. to leave (To leave is an infinitive.)

Worksheet 2

Write whether the underlined words in the following sentences are finite or non-finite. If they are non-finite, say whether they are infinitives, past participles, present participles or gerunds.

1. We walked around the neighbourhood looking for the cat.

2. Screaming loudly, they ran out of the house.

3. I called him because I wanted to talk to him.

4. Swimming is a good exercise.

5. Smoking harms not only the smoker but also those around him.

6. She said that she wanted to become a writer.

7. She does not enjoy cooking or cleaning.

8. I am used to working hard.

9. She insisted on my joining her.

10. He was told to mind his own business.

11. She does not believe in showing off her wealth.

12. Wading through the water, we reached the bank of the river.

Answers

1. (looking – non-finite – participle)

2. (screaming – non-finite – participle)

3. (wanted – finite)

4. (swimming – non-finite – gerund)

5. (smoking – non-finite – gerund)

6. (to become – non-finite – infinitive)

7. (cooking – non-finite – gerund)

8. (working – non-finite – gerund)

9. (joining – non-finite (gerund)

10. (to mind – non-finite (infinitive))

11. (showing – Non-finite (gerund; it is the object of the preposition in))

12. (wading – Non-finite (present participle))

Worksheet 3

Write whether the underlined words in the following sentences are finite or non-finite.

1. I don’t want to talk to him ever again.

2. Did you meet him yesterday?

3. What were you doing in my room?

4. She is eager to quit.

5. It took me several months to finish the job.

6. Are there any advantages to living alone?

7. We still don’t know what happened to them.

8. Having finished his homework, he went out to play.

9. Singing merrily, she walked into the room.

10. We are all waiting to hear from them.

11. He denied all charges levelled against him.

12. She accused me of reading her letters.

13. They encouraged him to try again and again.

14. We cannot afford to spend any more money on this.

15. We were all shocked to hear the news of his sudden demise.

16.We are going to win.

17. She will soon have an accident if she continues to drive like that.

18. How are we going to solve this issue?

19. I don’t mind getting up early in the morning.

20. I enjoy going for long drives.

Answers

1. to talk – non-finite – infinitive

2. meet – non-finite – infinitive (without to)

3. doing – non-finite – present participle

4. to quit – non-finite – infinitive

5. took – finite verb

6. living – non-finite – gerund

7. happened – finite verb

8. having finished – perfect participle

9. singing – non-finite – present participle

10. waiting – non-finite – present participle

11. levelled – non-finite – past participle

12. reading – gerund

13. to try – infinitive

14. afford – finite verb

15. shocked – past participle

16. to win – non-finite – infinitive

17. continues – finite verb

18. to solve – infinitive

19. getting – gerund (object of the verb mind)

20. going – gerund – object of the verb enjoy