Finite verbs are those verbs which change their form when there is a change in the number and person of the subject. For example, in the simple present tense, finite verbs take the marker -s when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun.

Non-finite verbs have the same form irrespective of the number or person of the subject. There are three types of non-finites: infinitives, gerunds and participles. Can you use finite and non-finite verbs correctly? Test your understanding of these verb forms with this grammar worksheet.

Identify the finite and non-finite verbs in the following sentences. If they are non-finite, say whether they are infinitives, past participles, present participles or gerunds.

1. I went there to meet him.

2. Working hard, she passed the test.

3. Despite working hard, we could not solve the problem.

4. Not knowing what to do, I went to bed.

5. Do you know where he lives?

6. I was surprised to hear that she had failed her test.

7. Forgotten by all, he lived alone in his native village.

8. She wants to be a writer.

9. I have known him for a long time.

10. It took me quite some time to get used to living alone.

Answers

1. I went there to meet him. (finite verb: went; non-finite verb: to meet (infinitive))

2. Working hard, she passed the test. (finite verb: passed; non-finite verb: working (present participle)

3. Despite working hard, we could not solve the problem. (finite verb: could not solve; non-finite: working (gerund))

4. Not knowing what to do, I went to bed. (finite verb: went; non-finite verbs: knowing (present participle), to do (infinitive))

5. Do you know where he lives? (finite verbs: do know, lives)

6. I was surprised to hear that she had failed her test. (finite verb: was surprised, had failed; non-finite: to hear (infinitive))

7. Forgotten by all, he lived alone in his native village. (finite verb: lived; non-finite: forgotten (past participle))

8. She wants to be a writer. (finite verb: wants; non-finite: to be (infinitive))

9. I have known him for a long time. (finite verb – have known)

10. It took me quite some time to get used to living alone. (finite verb – took; non-finite verb – to get (infinitive)

Worksheet 2

Identify the finite and non-finite verbs in the following sentences. If they are non-finite, say whether they are infinitives, past participles, present participles or gerunds.

1. I want to leave now.

2. Would you like to come with me?

3. We were shocked to hear the news.

4. We saw a man drawing a cart.

5. Who do you want to go with?

6. I don’t know what I am supposed to do.

7. Knocking loudly at the door, he demanded admission.

8. I am interested in learning to cook.

9. She does not enjoy reading.

10. Smoking is injurious to health.

11. It is not worth waiting any longer.

12. I have saved enough money to buy a car.

13. She went away without looking at anybody.

14. The government has decided to increase fuel prices.

15. You have no right to criticize me.

16. She doesn’t know how to behave.

17. It takes a lot of time to learn a foreign language.

18. I enjoy singing.

19. I did a lot of reading on my holiday.

20. She left the room without saying a word.

Answers

1. I want (finite) to leave (non-finite; infinitive) now.

2. Would you like (finite) to come (non-finite; infinitive) with me?

3. We were shocked (finite) to hear (non-finite; infinitive) the news.

4. We saw (finite) a man drawing (non-finite; present participle) a cart.

5. Who do you want (finite) to go (non-finite; infinitive) with?

6. I don’t know (finite) what I am (finite) supposed to do (non-finite; infinitive).

7. Knocking (non-finite; present participle) loudly at the door, he demanded (finite) admission.

8. I am (finite) interested in learning (non-finite; gerund – object of the preposition in) to cook (non-finite; infinitive).

9. She does not enjoy (finite) reading (non-finite; gerund).

10. Smoking (non-finite; gerund) is (finite) injurious to health

11. It is (finite) not worth waiting (non-finite; present participle) any longer.

12. I have saved (finite) enough money to buy (non-finite; infinitive) a car.

13. She went (finite) away without looking (non-finite; gerund) at anybody.

14. The government has decided (finite) to increase (non-finite; infinitive) fuel prices.

15. You have (finite) no right to criticize (non-finite; infinitive) me.

16. She doesn’t know (finite) how to behave (non-finite; infinitive).

17. It takes (finite) a lot of time to learn (non-finite; infinitive) a foreign language.

18. I enjoy (finite) singing (non-finite; gerund – it is the object of the verb enjoy).

19. I did (finite) a lot of reading (non-finite; gerund – it is the object of the verb did) on my holiday.

20. She left (finite verb) the room without saying (non-finite; gerund – it is the object of the preposition without) a word.

Worksheet 3

Fill in the blanks with the correct finite or non-finite form of the verbs given in the brackets.

1. I never …………………………. my friends on their birthday. (forget, wish)

2. The health inspector ……………………………….. the villagers …………………………… water before ………………………… it. (instruct, boil, drink)

3. Grandma ………………………….. me ……………………….. early in the morning. (tell, wake up)

4. The teacher ………………………. the students ……………………….. their assignments before Friday. (ask, submit)

5. Everyone ………………………….. rich and successful. (want, become)

6. I ………………………… to the college ………………………. my professor. (go, meet)

7. The doctor ………………………………. a holiday. (suggest, take)

8. Not …………………………. what ……………………….., he …………………………… there motionless. (know, do, stand)

9. Mom ………………………… that I was old enough ………………………. my own bed. (say, make)

10. The coach ………………………… the players ………………………….. regularly. (tell, practice)

Answers

1. I never forget to wish my friends on their birthday.

2. The health inspector instructed the villagers to boil water before drinking it.

3. Grandma told me to wake up early in the morning.

4. The teacher asked the students to submit their assignments before Friday.

5. Everyone wants to become rich and successful.

6. I went to the college to meet my professor.

7. The doctor suggested taking a holiday.

8. Not knowing what to do, he stood there motionless.

9. Mom said that I was old enough to make my own bed.

10. The coach told the players to practice regularly.

Worksheet 4

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

1. I told them to go away.

2. She enjoys playing with her cats.

3. She opened the book and started reading.

4. Running fast, I caught up with him.

5. I don’t know what I am supposed to do.

6. I went to him to discuss my plans.

7. She asked me why I was angry.

8. Don’t forget to post letter.

9. I dislike people telling me what to do.

10. She is waiting to hear from them.

11. I still remember meeting him for the first time.

12. She shouted at me for reading her letters.

Answers

1. I told (finite) them to go (non-finite) away.

2. She enjoys (finite) playing (non-finite) with her cats.

3. She opened (finite) the book and started (finite) reading (non-finite).

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

5. I don’t know (finite) what I am supposed (finite) to do (non-finite).

6. I went (finite) to him to discuss (non-finite) my plans.

7. She asked (finite) me why I was (finite) angry.

8. Don’t forget (finite) to post (non-finite) letter.

9. I dislike (finite) people telling (non-finite) me what to do (non-finite).

10. She is waiting (finite) to hear (non-finite) from them.

11. I still remember (finite) meeting (non-finite) him for the first time.

12. She shouted (finite verb) at me for reading (non-finite) her letters.