Finite & Non-Finite Verbs

Finite and Non-finite Verbs:

Introduction:

He told me to go shopping.

(‘told’ – finite verb; ‘to go’ – non-finite verb; ‘shopping’ – non-finite verb)

Read the following sentences:

1.  They always find fault with me.

2.  She always finds fault with me.

3.  He found fault with me yesterday.

4.  They always try to find fault with me.

5.  She always tries to find fault with me.

6.  He tried to find fault with me yesterday.

In sentence 1, the verb ‘find’ has “they” for its subject, and as the subject “they” is a plural pronoun, the verb ‘find’ is also in the plural form in SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE.

In sentence 2, the verb ‘finds’ has “ She” for its subject, and as the subject “she” is a singular pronoun, the verb “find” is also in singular form ‘finds’, in simple present tense.

Note that most of the singular Nouns are changed to their plural number with the addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’, but the VERB WORD becomes singular with the addition of ‘s’ or ‘es’ in simple present tense!

For example:

This boy plays in the classroom.   [‘this boy’ noun – subject – singular number;  “plays” verb – singular (changed to singular with the addition of ‘s’) in SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE]

All the boys play in the classroom.  [‘boys’ noun – subject – plural number (changed to plural with the addition of ‘s’);  “play” verb – plural (without ‘s’) in simple present tense]

In sentence 3, the verb ‘found’ is used with yesterday, and the time frame being past, the verb word ‘find’ is changed into its past form ‘found’.

The verb word of a sentence which is limited by the person and number of the subject and the time frame – present, past and future – is called the FINITE VERB.  Every expression (subject) must have at least one Finite Verb in it!  All verb words in the ‘indicative’, ‘subjunctive’ and ‘imperative’ moods are FINITE.

In sentences 4, 5, and 6, however, the verb word ‘try’ has taken the job of the verb word “find” in sentences 1, 2 and 3.  The verb ‘try’ is in its plural form in 4 because the subject ‘they’ is plural; in singular form in 5 because the subject ‘she’ is singular and in past form in 6 because the time frame (yesterday) is past.

But the verb word “find” in its ‘to-infinitive’ form – ‘to find’ — is the same in all three sentences – 4, 5 & 6.  It has not changed according to the person and number of the subject or the time frame in the sentence.

So the verb word which is not limited by the subject and the tense in any sentence is called the NON-FINITE VERB.

The Non-finite forms are:

past participle (V3)

present participle (‘ing’ form)

infinitive with to or to-infinitive

infinitive without to or bare-infinitive

gerund  & the verbal noun

{Let’s take the verb word “go” for example.}

Clarification:

That man seems worried.   [worry – worried – worried – worrying — to worry — worry — worrying]

‘seems’ — finite verb; ‘worried – non-finite verb – past participle form of the verb word ‘worry’

We fought a losing battle.  [lose — lost — lost — losing — to lose — lose — losing]

‘fought’ – finite verb;  losing – non-finite verb – present participle form of “lose”

I made them do it again.     [do – did – done – doing – to do – do – doing]

‘made’ – finite verb; ‘do’ non-finite verb – the bare-infinitive form of “do”

He likes shooting.  [shoot – shot – shot – to shoot – shoot – shooting]

‘likes’ – finite verb;  ‘shooting’ – non-finite verb – the gerund form of “shoot”

Nevertheless, there are certain verb words that always belong to a particular group, such as ANOMALOUS FINITE, etc. which we are going to discuss in the coming sub-topics.

It is to be noted that we do not make sentences or expressions just because we have learned some grammar rules; we learn grammar rules to express ourselves — what we think or need to express!

We discuss the rules of grammar more at this basic level because we all need a common system, a set of rules, to make everybody understand everybody else without much difficulty!!

It should not be like going to a railway-station and taking any train that you see on the platform just because it is there and ready to move; it must be like getting on the train that takes you to your destination even if  you have to wait for some time!!!

Let’s discuss each of the Non-finite forms in some detail – how they are used, when they are used and how to identify them…

The Participles – Present & Past:

e.g.   go/goes  —  went  —  gone —  going —  to go  —  go  —  going

1. Participles help us to form tenses…

e.g.

He is working in the garden.

‘is working’  the verb of this sentence  — one verb – two parts — present continuous tense

‘is’ showing the ‘present’ time and “working” – the present participle form of the verb word ‘work’ — showing ‘continuous’ action

She has gone home.

‘has gone’ the verb of this sentence one verb – two parts — present perfect tense

‘has’ showing the ‘present’ time and “gone” – the past participle form of the verb word ‘go’ – showing ‘completed’ action

2. Participles are used to qualify a noun or a pronoun, just as an adjective does…

e.g.

That singing boy is my cousin.

‘singing’ – present participle – telling us about the ‘boy’ – a noun, like an adjective

The faded roses will soon die.

‘faded’ — past participle – (fade – faded – faded – fading) telling us about the “roses” – a noun, like an adjective

Compare:

[Participles are used as a part of the main verb.]

This boy is singing well.

[‘singing’ – present participle – part of the verb ‘is singing’ showing continuous action — one verb, two parts]

Those roses faded.   [‘faded’ – past form V2 – (fade – faded – faded – fading) finite verb, showing what happened to those roses]

3. Participles are used as subjective complement of a verb…

e.g.

Her voice is pleasing.

‘Her voice’ – subject of the sentence

‘pleasing’ – present participle of the verb word ‘please’ – showing how ‘Her voice’, subject of sentence, is – so, it is called “the subject complement”

(‘is pleasing’ in this sentence is not “one verb, two parts”; it is like ‘Her voice is good.’ —  ‘good’ = an adjective — ‘Her voice is  pleasing.’  “pleasing”, in this context = ‘good to hear’, like an adjective)

Note: If a quality is expressed by the ‘ing’ form of a verb word when it is used as a complement, it is called a participle; when it expresses an action or a state of being, it is called a gerund.

Compare:

Her voice is pleasing.   [‘pleasing’ – complement – present participle]

He likes shooting.         [‘shooting’ – an action & object of verb – gerund]

4. Participles are used for forming phrases…

e.g.

The work having been done, we sat down to rest.

[‘having been done’ —  present participle phrase]

Frightened by the loud noise, the ox ran away.

[‘Frightened by the loud noise’ – frighten – frightened – frightened —  past participle phrase]

A special note:

A participle phrase should be placed as close as possible to the word it qualifies, otherwise ambiguity (confusion) may result; therefore, care should be taken to place the participle phrase attached to some noun or pronoun close to it.

a)  He saw two women sitting on his bed.

b)  Sitting on his bed, he saw two women.

In a), as the phrase is placed next to “women”, it qualifies this word and gives us the meaning that ‘the women were sitting on his bed’; in b), the phrase is placed close to the word “he” which it qualifies, thus giving us the meaning that ‘he was sitting on the bed’.

Compare:

The girl entering the room saw her uncle.

[The girl who was entering the room saw her uncle.]

On entering the room, the girl saw her uncle.

[While the girl was entering the room she saw her uncle.]

The girl saw her uncle entering the room.

[The girl saw her uncle when her uncle was entering the room.]

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To-infinitive or Infinitive with to:

e.g.   go/goes  —  went  —  gone —  going —  to go —  go  —  going

1. The “to-infinitive” form is used when a verb word is to be used as a subject in a sentence…

e.g.

To understand all is to forgive all.

[‘to understand’ – “to-infinitive” form of the verb word ‘understand’ – subject of the sentence; ‘to forgive’ – “to-infinitive” form of the verb word ‘forgive’ – complement]

2. The “to-infinitive” form is used when a verb word is to be used as a subjective complement…

e.g.

Her greatest pleasure is to sing.

[‘her greatest pleasure’ – subject of the sentence;  ‘to sing’ – complement of that subject]

[please see item 3 under “participles –  present & past” above]

3. The “to-infinitive” form is used after the preposition “about” and the verb word “ought”…

e.g.  He is about to go.

You ought to go now.

4. The “to-infinitive” is used when a verb word is either an Object or an Object complement f such verb words as:

allow                      order                       command                              encouraged

*like                        *dislike                   *hate                                      prefer

love                        ant                          wish                                        declare

intend                    hold                        consider                                 require

believe                    suppose                 presume                                 expect

fancy

*admit

understand

own

confess

appear

arrange

attempt

be able

be apt

be bound

be due

be eager

be liable

be ready

be entitled

dash be

prepared

be reluctant

fail

guarantee

promise

offer

threaten

determine

bother

be relieved

Some verbs may take either a ‘to-infinitive’ or a “gerund” for their object, for example, the verb words which are marked (*) in the above-mentioned list can be used with either ‘to-infinitive’ or a “gerund”. This point is clearly explained later.

Some examples related to item 4:

He likes to dance.    [‘to dance’ – object of the verb]

He likes her to dance. [‘her’ object; ‘to dance’ – object complement]

I was allowed to go.       [‘I’ – subject; ‘to go’ – subject complement]

We expect to leave town early morning.   [‘to leave’ – object of the verb]

We expect him to leave town.   [‘him’ – object; ‘to leave’ object complement]

5. The “to-infinitive” is used after the ordinal numbers – first, second, last, etc…

e.g.

She was the first to go.

We are the last to go.

6. The “to-infinitive” is used after the ‘wh-’ words – who, what, which, how, etc…

e.g.

I don’t know what to do.

They asked me how to dress the baby.

7. The “to-infinitive” is used after ‘such…as’ and ‘so…as’…

e.g.

He acted in such a way as to make us think he was mad.

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Bare-infinitive or Infinitive without ‘to’:

e.g.   go/goes  —  went  —  gone —  going —  to go  —  go —  going

1. The Bare-infinitive is used after verb words expressing some kind of perception,

such as see, watch, mark, observe, hear, know, feel, bid, let, and make…

Any activity that takes shape in the mind is ‘perception’; for example, “see” is a perception verb, but ‘look’ is an action verb, and “hear” is a perception verb, but ‘listen’ is an action verb.

The verb word “to know”, when it means ‘to see’ or ‘experience’, may be followed by an infinitive with or without ‘to’:

e.g.

I have never known him make a mistake.

or

I have never known him to make a mistake.

e.g.

We watched the procession go by.

[‘watched’ – finite verb; “go” – non-finite – bare-infinitive]

I will let you do it.

[‘will let’ — finite verb; “do” – non-finite – bare-infinitive]

2. Bare-infinitive form is used after such expressions as…

had better                             had rather                             had sooner

had as soon                           better than                            rather than

sooner than                          more than                             can but & cannot but

nothing but                           need only                              need hardly

e.g.

We had better go home now.

I had sooner run than walk.

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The Gerund:

e.g.   go/goes  —  went  —  gone —  going —  to go  —  go  —  going

A Gerund is that part of a verb whose main function is that of a noun.  It does not as a result, forgo its verbal functions like other Non-finite forms.

Noun Functions of a Gerund:

a)  The subject of a verb:   Singing is a pleasant pastime.

b)  The object of a verb:    She likes singing.

c)  The object of a preposition:  We are fond of singing.

d)  The subjective complement of a verb:  Her favourite pastime is singing.

An example showing how a Gerund takes on the functions of a verb and a noun:

He likes teaching me English.

Here ‘teaching’ has the function of a noun as it is the Object of the verb ‘likes’

He likes… what? = teaching – object;

and it has the function of a verb as it has two objects:

he likes teaching… what? = English – direct object;

he likes teaching English… whom? = me – indirect object

A possessive adjective , or a noun or pronoun in possessive (genitive) case, is often used together with a gerund.  For example, “Please excuse my coming late.”

(‘my’ – possessive adjective of pronoun ‘I’; “coming” – gerund)

= “Please excuse me for coming late.”

“Have you heard of President’s being in the UK?”

(‘president’s’ – possessive case)

= “Have you heard that the President is in the UK?”

1. The gerund form is used after a preposition…

e.g.

You are late in coming.       She is tired of learning.

2. The gerund form is used after such words/expressions as…

*to attempt           *to begin               *to continue         *to forget

*to hate                 *to intend             *to like                   *to love

*to omit                 *to regret              *to remember      *to stop

without                  instead of              finish                      admit

insist on                 prevent from        mind (= object to)   practise

tired of                   be used to              worth                     approve of

can’t help              enjoy                      deny                       get through

go on (= continue)   keep on                 risk                          be looking forward to

give up (= stop)      forget about          it’s no use              consider

have the pleasure of                take the pleasure of           there is no harm

be accustomed to

appreciate             object to                succeed in             think of

busy                        quit                         count on                avoid

better of                fond of

Some noteworthy points:

The verb words marked (*) in the above list may also take a ‘to-infinitive’ form as their object. The meaning may be slightly different.  This point is clearly discussed in the next item.

At the beginning of a sentence “on” and the gerund are to mean ‘as soon as’…

e.g.

On coming into town, he got arrested.

= As soon as he came into town, he got arrested.

Followed by ‘for’ + gerund

e.g.

I criticised him for saying that.

= I criticised him because he had said that.

followed by ‘from’ + gerund

e.g.

I discouraged him from doing it.

= [He wanted to do it but I stopped him from that idea.]

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TO-INFINITIVE OR GERUND?

Both the to-infinitive and the gerund are almost similar in function.  Most of the verb words given in the lists above take either to-infinitive or gerund, however, the meaning is different.

Explanation:

a)  He stopped to talk.

b)  He stopped talking.

Sentence a) means that ‘he’ stopped whatever he was doing in order to talk.

Suppose he was writing something, he stopped that action to talk to somebody.

Sentence b) means that ‘he’ discontinued the action of talking to someone else probably because he was angry with that person or hurt because the other person insulted him – he was just sulking.

c)  I forgot to post the letter.

d)  I forgot posting the letter.

Sentence c) means that I should have posted the letter long ago but I did not post it; it is still with me.

Sentence d) means that I do not quite remember whether I posted the letter or not; the letter is not with me, so I must have posted it, but I do not remember going to the post box or post office and putting the letter in the box.

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The Verbal Noun:

e.g.   go/goes  —  went  —  gone —  going —  to go  —  go  —  going

A verbal noun, although formed from a verb word, is a pure noun.  As such it has only one form ending in ‘ing’ form.  It cannot be used in Active and Passive Voice or in any tense.

Examples:

We listened to the playing of the music band.

[‘the playing’  — verbal noun – object of preposition ‘to’ – no plural form]

This town has beautiful surroundings.

[‘surroundings’ —  verbal noun – object of verb ‘has’ – no singular form]

Compare:

a)  This road has a sharp turning.

[‘turning’ – verbal noun – plural “turnings”]

b)  The turning of the handle made me tired.

[‘the turning’ – verbal noun – no plural]

but…

c)  I am tired of turning the handle.

[‘turning’ – object of preposition ‘of’ – gerund — ‘I am tired of turning’ …. what? = “the handle” — object]