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Most of us probably well understand a verb's vital role as a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. A verb also is the main word of a sentence's predicate and may be used with another verb as an auxiliary.
What not all of us may be familiar with are certain verb nuances such as the distinction between finite and non-finite verbs.
What Are Finite Verbs?
A finite verb is one that has tense and subject agreement and acts as the main verb of a sentence. It is the word that conveys what the action is, who is doing it, and when it happens.
Finite Verb: Tense
Asher writes big checks. (present tense)
Asher wrote big checks. (past tense)
Asher will write big checks. (future tense)
Finite Verb: Subject Agreement
Asher writes big checks. (singular subject and verb)
We write big checks. (plural subject and verb)
I write big checks. (singular subject and verb) |
Finite verbs are crucial because they form the foundation of sentence structure. To be complete, all sentences must have a finite verb.
Finite verbs can stand alone or as part of a verb phrase. If a sentence includes more than one verb, the finite verb is often the one closest to the sentence subject.
Asher is going to write another big check.
Asher writes big checks when his account is full and he is in a good mood. |
Finite Verbs: Necessary Precision
Through finite verbs, we convey important information such as time of the action. Compare the following sentences:
Asher writes big checks.
Asher written big checks.
Asher to write big checks. |
Only the first sentence tells us the action's exact timing (the present). The first sentence also is the only complete one with a subject, a tense, and subject-verb agreement.
Because of these traits, finite verbs are integral to dependent and independent clauses.
| Often after he sells some of his vintage baseball cards, Asher writes big checks. |
Compare that with:
| Often after to sell some of his vintage baseball cards, Asher writing big checks. |
The first sentence includes both independent and dependent clauses with a finite verb indicating the clause's subject, tense, and agreement. The second sentence's clauses are only fragments because of the missing finite verb.
We can see how without finite verbs, sentences would be vague, incomplete, or ungrammatical.
Finite Verbs: Verb Phrases
Within a verb phrase, the finite verb once again will be that which clarifies tense and agreement.
Asher has written big checks.
The finite verb has is an auxiliary verb in the verb phrase has written. It places the action in the present perfect tense while agreeing in number (singular) with the subject.
Asher can write big checks.
The finite verb can is a modal verb in the verb phrase can write. It places the action in the present tense while agreeing in number (singular) with the subject.
The big checks were being written by Asher.
The finite verb were is an auxiliary verb in the verb phrase were being written. It places the action in the passive voice of the past progressive tense while agreeing in number (plural) with the subject. |
What Are Non-Finite Verbs?
Now that we understand finite verbs, we can adroitly review non-finite verbs, which, as you'll see, we've already alluded to in our discussion. Non-finite verbs are also referred to as verbals.
Different from finite verbs, non-finite verbs do not have tense or subject agreement. For that reason, they cannot stand alone.
Non-finite verbs appear in three forms:
Infinitives: to + verb
to write, to sell, to have
Asher likes to write big checks.
Gerunds: -ing verb forms that function as nouns
writing, selling, having
Asher enjoys writing big checks.
Participles: present (ending -ing) and past (often ending -ed, -en, -n, -d, -t)
written, sold, explained
Asher has written big checks. |
We see how each underlined word has neither a subject nor a tense. It cannot operate alone in the sentence without support from the finite verb (likes, enjoys, has).
Note that in constructions with auxiliary verbs, only the leading verb is finite. The supporting components are non-finite.
| Sentence |
Asher will be writing big checks. |
| Finite |
will |
| Non-Finite |
be, writing |
| Sentence |
Asher could write big checks. |
| Finite |
could |
| Non-Finite |
write |
| Sentence |
Asher will have been writing big checks. |
| Finite |
will |
| Non-Finite |
have, been, writing |
Each verb identified as finite is the one that most informs the sentence's tense. In these particular examples, the finite verb would agree in number with both singular and plural subjects.
Finite vs. Non-Finite Verbs: Head-to-Head
At this point, we're aware that finite verbs are those that can stand alone and complete a sentence; they do not need non-finite verbs to operate.
Conversely, non-finite verbs are those that can't stand alone nor complete a sentence; they need finite verbs to function within a full sentence.
With those aspects in mind, let's look at some sentences containing both finite and non-finite verbs to reinforce our recognition of them.
| Asher has been collecting baseball cards for much of his life. Sometimes, he will sell some and enjoy the large return on his investment. He has been known to write big checks. |
Did you find yourself already distinguishing the finite verbs from the non-finite ones? Let's look at those sentences again and call out just the finite verbs.
| Asher has been collecting baseball cards for much of his life. Sometimes, he will sell some and enjoy the large return on his investment. He has been known to write big checks. |
Now let's single out the non-finite verbs.
| Asher has been collecting baseball cards for much of his life. Sometimes, he will sell some and enjoy the large return on his investment. He has been known to write big checks. |
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