Learn English Grammar and Vocabulary
Non-finite verbs
Read the following sentences
- John thinks that he is intelligent.
- I want to go.
In sentence 1, the verb thinks has a subject and is limited by the number
and person of that subject, namely John.
Verbs which are thus limited by the number and person of their subjects are
called finite verbs. In fact, all verbs in the indicative, imperative and
subjunctive moods are finite because they have subjects.
In sentence 2, the verb want is finite because it has a subject and is
limited by the number and person of that subject, namely I. But to go has no subject and is not limited by number or person. It is used without any
change whatever be the subject of the sentence.
- You want to go.
- He wants to go.
- She wants to go.
- They want to go.
The verb to go is therefore described as a non-finite
verb.
There are three groups of non-finites:
The infinitive
Examples are: to learn, to write, to work, to play, to break etc.
The participle
Examples: learning, writing, working, playing, breaking etc. (Present
participle)
learned, written, worked, played, broken etc. (Past participle)
The Gerund or verbal noun
Examples are: learning, writing, working, playing, breaking etc.
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