Underline the finite and non-finite verbs in the following sentences.
A finite verb changes its form when the number or person of the subject changes. Finite verbs have different forms in different tenses.
A non-finite verb does not change its form when the subject or tense changes.
- I want to go.
- He wants to go.
- They want to go.
- Suma wanted to go.
As you can see the verb want changes its form when the subject or tense changes. Hence, it is a finite verb. The verb to go does not undergo any changes when the subject or tense changes. Hence, it is a non-finite verb.
Finite and non-finite verbs exercise with answers
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) me a call when you are finished (finite verb).
2. I want (finite verb) you to leave (non-finite verb) now.
3. She does not have (finite verb) to wait (non-finite verb) for me.
4. You don’t have (finite verb) to pay (non-finite verb) for that call.
5. She does not know (finite verb) how to behave (non-finite verb).
6. I am waiting (finite verb) to hear (non-finite verb) from them.
7. He denied (finite verb) the charges leveled (non-finite verb) against him.
8. I didn’t want (finite verb) to offend (non-finite verb) them.
9. He enjoys (finite verb) watching (non-finite verb) movies.
10. He refused (finite verb) to talk (non-finite verb) to me.
11. Dad suggested (finite verb) buying (non-finite verb) a new car.
12. She insisted (finite verb) on coming (non-finite verb) with me.
13. I was (finite verb) anxious to leave.
14. I hate (finite verb) having (non-finite verb) to wait (non-finite verb) for people who are (finite verb) late.
15. I don’t remember (finite verb) meeting (non-finite verb) him at the party.
16. It is going (finite verb) to take (non-finite verb) longer than expected (non-finite verb).
17. The teacher encouraged (finite verb) them to work (non-finite verb) harder.
18. I was told (finite verb) to leave (non-finite verb).
19. They stopped (finite verb) him from leaving (non-finite verb).
20. I don’t know (finite verb) what to do (non-finite verb).
