What is a finite-verb?

A verb that changes its form according to the change in the number and person of the subject is a finite verb. Study the examples given below.

• I love writing. (Here we use the verb love because the subject is the first person singular pronoun I.)
• He loves writing. (The verb love becomes loves when the subject is a third person singular pronoun.)
• Rani loves writing. (Here also the verb love becomes loves because the subject is a singular noun.)

As you can see the verb love changes its form when there is a change in the number and person of the subject. Hence, it is a finite verb.

Finite verbs have different forms in different tenses.

• They are writing. (In the present continuous tense, the verb write becomes is/am/are + writing.)
• I am writing.
• I was writing.
• I wrote.

What is a non-finite verb?

A non-finite verb has the same form regardless of the change in the number or person of the subject.

• I enjoy reading.
• He enjoys reading.
• She enjoyed reading.
• Raju enjoys reading.

As you can see the verb enjoy changes its form when the subject or tense changes. By contrast, the verb reading remains the same in all sentences. Here, enjoy is a finite verb whereas reading is a non-finite verb.

There are four types of non-finite verbs. They are:

• Infinitives: to write, to work, to sing, to buy, to hear etc.
• Gerunds: writing, working, singing, buying, hearing etc.
• Present participle: writing, working, singing, buying, hearing etc.
• Past participle: written, worked, sung, bought, heard etc.

Gerunds and present participles have the same form. However, their grammatical properties are different.

Worksheet 1

Identify the finite and non-finite verbs in the following sentences.

1. He wants to find a good job.

2. I enjoy swimming in the sea.

3. A young man rose from his seat to speak.

4. I went to Mumbai to stay with my brother.

5. She does not know what to do.

6. Seeing the cops, the thieves ran away.

7. Standing at the gate, the man shouted loudly.

8. Biting nails is a bad habit.

9. She prevented me from entering her room.

10. We do not allow smoking in the house.

11. The travellers stopped to get some rest.

12. After resting for some time, they resumed their journey.

Answers

1. (wants – finite; to find – non finite

2. enjoy – finite; swimming – non finite

3. rose – finite; to speak – non finite

4. went – finite; to stay – non finite

5. does not know – finite; to do – non finite

6. ran – finite; seeing – non finite

7. shouted – finite; standing – non finite

8. is – finite; biting – non finite

9. prevented – finite; entering – non finite

10. do not allow – finite; smoking – non finite

11. stopped – finite; to get – non finite

12. resting – non finite; resumed – finite

Worksheet 2

Identify the finite and non-finite verbs in the following sentences.

1. She went to university to meet her professor.

2. She doesn’t know how to behave.

3. I have stopped talking to him.

4. It took me a long time to finish the job.

5. She went to the hospital to get that mole checked.

6. Don’t forget to lock the door before you leave.

7. I want to discuss this matter with you.

8. Running fast, he soon caught up with us.

9. He refused to listen to me.

10. I found him sitting at a table.

11. He enjoys having neighbours to quarrel with.

12. The only thing that matters is to find our way home.

13. When we reached home, we found water dripping down the wall.

14. I have nothing to hide from you.

15. She ran into the room singing.

16. I didn’t dare to question him.

17. She refused to get up.

18. I didn’t want to offend him.

Answers

1. Finite: went; non-finite: to meet

2. Finite: doesn’t know; non-finite: to behave

3. Finite: have stopped; non-finite: talking

4. Finite: took; non-finite: to finish

5. Finite: went; non-finite: to get

6. Finite: don’t forget, leave; non-finite: to lock

7. Finite: want; non-finite: to discuss

8. Finite: caught; non-finite: running

9. Finite: refused; non-finite: to listen

10. Finite: found; non-finite: sitting

11. Finite: enjoys; non-finite: having, to quarrel

12. Finite: is; non-finite: to find

13. Finite: reached, found; non-finite: dripping

14. Finite: have; non-finite: to hide

15. Finite: ran; non-finite: singing

16. Finite: didn’t dare; non-finite: to question

17. Finite: refused; non-finite: to get

18. Finite: didn’t want; non-finite: to offend

Worksheet 3

Identify the finite and non-finite verbs in the following sentences.

1. I went to Mumbai to look for work.

2. Not knowing what to do, I went for a walk.

3. Would you like to play with me?

4. I want to do some hiking this weekend.

5. I hate waiting for people to arrive.

6. We hope to see him there.

7. I expected them to arrive in the evening.

8. He is going to start a new job next week.

9. Driven by hunger, he stole a loaf of bread.

10. The teacher advised them to work hard.

11. He refused to come with me.

12. She enjoys feeding stray animals.

13. I have got a lot of work to do.

14. I love walking in the rains.

15. Running fast, I caught up with him.

Answers

1. I went (finite-verb) to Mumbai to look (non-finite verb) for work.

2. Not knowing (non-finite verb) what to do (non-finite verb), I went (finite-verb) for a walk.

3. Would you like (finite-verb) to play (non-finite verb) with me?

4. I want (finite-verb) to do (non-finite verb) some hiking (non-finite verb) this weekend.

5. I hate (finite-verb) waiting (non-finite verb) for people to arrive (non-finite verb).

6. We hope (finite-verb) to see (non-finite verb) him there.

7. I expected (finite-verb) them to arrive (non-finite verb) in the evening.

8. He is going (finite-verb) to start (non-finite verb) a new job next week.

9. Driven (non-finite verb) by hunger, he stole (finite-verb) a loaf of bread.

10. The teacher advised (finite-verb) them to work (non-finite verb) hard.

11. He refused (finite-verb) to come (non-finite verb) with me.

12. She enjoys (finite-verb) feeding (non-finite verb) stray animals.

13. I have got (finite-verb) a lot of work to do (non-finite verb).

14. I love (finite-verb) walking (non-finite verb) in the rains.

15. Running (non-finite verb) fast, I caught (finite-verb) up with him.

Worksheet 4

1. Don’t forget to give me a call when you are finished.

2. I want you to leave now.

3. She does not have to wait for me.

4. You don’t have to pay for that call.

5. She does not know how to behave.

6. I am waiting to hear from them.

7. He denied the charges leveled against him.

8. I didn’t want to offend them.

9. He enjoys watching movies.

10. He refused to talk to me.

11. Dad suggested buying a new car.

12. She insisted on coming with me.

13. I was anxious to leave.

14. I hate having to wait for people who are late.

15. I don’t remember meeting him at the party.

16. It is going to take longer than expected.

17. The teacher encouraged them to work harder.

18. I was told to leave.

19. They stopped him from leaving.

20. I don’t know what to do.

Answers

1. Don’t forget (finite verb). to give (non-finite verb), are finished (finite verb)

2. want (finite), to leave (non-finite)

3. does not have (finite), to wait (non-finite)

4. don’t have (finite), to pay (non-finite)

5. does not know (finite), to behave (non-finite)

6. I am waiting (finite) to hear (non-finite) from them.

7. denied (finite), leveled (non-finite)

8. didn’t want (finite), to offend (non-finite)

9. enjoys (finite), watching (non-finite)

10. refused (finite), to talk (non-finite)

11. suggested (finite), buying (non-finite)

12. insisted (finite), coming (non-finite)

13. was (finite), anxious to leave (non-finite)

14. hate (finite), having (non-finite), to wait (non-finite), are (finite)

15. don’t remember (finite), meeting (non-finite)

16. is going (finite), to take (non-finite), expected (non-finite).

17. encouraged (finite), to work (non-finite)

18. was told (finite), to leave (non-finite).

19. stopped (finite), leaving (non-finite)

20. don’t know (finite), to do (non-finite)