Read the groups of words given below. Some of them are sentences and have a finite verb. Others are phrases and have a non-finite verb. Identify the sentences and phrases. Note that the full stop is deliberately omitted.

1. Standing at the gate

2. He missed the target

3. The monkey gibbered

4. He demanded admission

5. Working round the clock

6. Despite trying to the best of my ability

7. Anxious to contact his brother

8. Looking forward to meeting you

9. I want to know.

10. You can’t mess with me.

11. Unable to bear the pain

12. Driven by hunger and thirst

13. Not knowing what to do

14. The man waited and waited

15. She leaned against the wall.

Answers

1. Standing at the gate (Phrase; non-finite verb – standing)

2. He missed the target (Clause; finite verb – missed)

3. The monkey gibbered (Clause; finite verb – gibbered)

4. He demanded admission (Clause; finite verb – demanded)

5. Working round the clock (Phrase; non-finite verb – working)

6. Despite trying to the best of my ability (Phrase; non-finite verb – trying)

7. Anxious to contact his brother (Phrase; non-finite verb – to contact)

8. Looking forward to meeting you (Phrase; non-finite verb – looking, meeting)

9. I want to know. (Clause; finite verb – want; non-finite verb – to know; a clause can contain a non-finite verb and it must have a finite verb)

10. You can’t mess with me. (Clause; finite verb – can’t mess)

11. Unable to bear the pain (Phrase; non-finite verb – to bear)

12. Driven by hunger and thirst (Phrase; non-finite verb – driven)

13. Not knowing what to do (Phrase; non-finite verbs – knowing, to do)

14. The man waited and waited (Clause; finite verb – waited)

15. She leaned against the wall. (Clause; finite verb – leaned)

More Finite And Non-finite Verbs Exercises

Finite and non-finite verbs exercise for class 10