What are verbs?

Identify the subject and predicate in the

following sentences.
• Meena is reading a book.
• The foolish crow tried to be the peacock.
• The teacher gave him a prize.
• My parents and my brother have gone to the market.
• The girl was wearing a blue frock.
Finite and Non-finite verbs
 What is finite verb?
Verb
Present, Past, Future Singular, Plural

Tense Subject Number

Person
First, Second and Third
• A finite verb is a verb that has a finite or limited agreement with
the subject. It limits its usage as per subject's parameter.
• There are three defined parameters on which this limitation is
fixed.
• First : tense (that is subject is performing action in past ,present
or future)
• Second : person(that is subject is first, second, third person)
Third : number (that is subject is singular / plural)
• So, a finite verb will change as per tense of the sentence, as per
person and as per number
Examples of Verb change as per tense
I play cricket everyday

Present Tense

I played cricket every day

Past Tense

Finite Verbs
Examples of Verb change as per person
I eat an apple daily

He eats an apple daily.

Finite Verbs
Examples of Verb change as per Number
Apple is of red colour.

Apples are of red colour.

Sara jumps from the stairs. They jump from the stairs.

Verb Verb

Verbs in present tense agree with the subject

Sara jumps from the stairs. They jump from the stairs.

Verbs in present tense agree with the subject

Sara jumped from the stairs. They jumped from the stairs.

Past tense form of verb is used

Verb changes according to the grammatical tense, person and number

 Finite Verbs

Finite verbs are those that show agreement with subject ( person and
number) and indicate grammatical tense.

They are the main verbs or auxiliaries that carry the tense of the verb
(present, past, future – simple, continuous, perfect , perfect continuous),
number (singular or plural), and voice ( active or passive)
Main Verbs
• The main verb is also called the lexical verb or the principal verb. This
term refers to the important verb in the sentence, the one that
typically shows the action or state of being of the subject. Main verbs
can stand alone, or they can be used with a helping verb.
 Non – Finite Verbs

Verb
Present, Past, Future Singular, Plural

Tense Subject Number

Person
First, Second and Third

Non- Finite verbs don't have any agreement with the subject. That is they are not limited as per the change in
subject or tense of subject. It doesn't change as per tense, or as per person, or as per number. They do not
perform any action in the sentence.
• I found his office at a walking distance. (Present tense)

Non- Finite Verb

Finite Verb

• They will find his office at a walking distance. (Future tense)

Finite Verb
Non- Finite Verb
Sara likes to jump. They like to jump.
To + base verb To + base verb
Finite verb Finite verb

Sara liked to jump. They liked to jump.

To + base verb To + base verb
Finite verb Finite verb

Does not change form according to subject (number and person)

and does not indicate any tense
 Non- finite Verbs

- Do not indicate any tense.

- Do not change with the subject.

These verbs do not talk about the action or state of being or belonging
relating the subject or noun. They do not indicate any tense, mood or
voice. They function as nouns, pronouns and adjectives. They do not
function as verbs.
 Non- finite as Nouns

- In the –ing forms they are sometimes gerunds (nouns) or infinitives

(to + verbs)

- Swimming is a great exercise (noun). Can be replaced by : Golf is a

great exercise.

- To swim would be a great exercise (noun) Can be replaced by : Golf

would be a great exercise.
 Non- finite as Adjectives

- Participles – present ing and past (ed, -en , -t)

- Swimming dolphins came our way (adjective)
- Can be replaced by: Graceful dolphins came our way.

- The crushed papers was thrown away (adjective)

- Can be replaced by: The brown paper was thrown away.

The broken vase was found. (adjective)

Can be replaced by: The pretty vase was found.
 Modals

- Modals work as main verbs and as auxiliaries and refer to subject so

they are finite. They function as verbs and not as nouns or adjectives
or adverbs.

- They have no subject verb agreement, no tense or number or

participle forms or imperatives. Hence they are also like non-finite
verbs.
 Mom is cooking in the kitchen

Verb

Auxiliary verb Main verb

In progress
Mom is cooking in the kitchen

Finite verb

They were cooking in the kitchen

Finite verb

Mom will be cooking dinner in the evening.

Finite verb
Mom loves cooking on Sundays

Finite verb
Non - finite verb

Mom loved cooking on Sundays

Finite verb
Non - finite verb
Identify the verbs and state whether they are
Finite or Non- finite.
• I like going out in the evening.
Like – finite verb , Going – Non – finite verb

• I am meeting my friend tomorrow.

am meeting – Finite verb.

• Scolding is not a good idea.

Scolding – non finite verb , is – finite verb.
 Verbs

Finite Non – finite

• Show agreement Do not show agreement
with the subject with the subject and do
and change form not change form based
on number and person.
based on number
and person Do not indicate any
tense.
• Indicate a tense
Note -
Every verb can be used either in a finite or non- finite way.

Non- finite verbs need a finite verb to make the sentence complete.
Answer the following questions
• Why did you go out? (Buy some fruits)
• I went out to buy some fruits
• Why are you standing here? (greet the Chief Guest)
• Why will Rajni go to Chennai? (visit her aunt)
• Why did you sell your car? (buy a car)
• Why did you travel by plane? (save time)
• Why did you go to the bazaar? (buy grocery)
• Why did you spend an extra hour in school? (practise football)
• Why are you going to College Street? (buy second hand books)
Make a list of 4 things that you enjoy doing
• Looking at the starry sky
• __________________
• _________________-
• _________________
• _________________

Make a list of things you must remember to do in the coming week

• To cover my text books
• __________
• __________
• __________
• __________
Use non-finites to write a dialogue between two friends about a three
day camping trip that both will be going for. You could begin like this:

• Seema : I am going for the school camping trip.

• Wendy : So will I. In fact I saw you write your name on the list.
• Seema : I have decided to take my camera. Carrying it will be no
problem.