English: verbs: finite vs non-finite

The tutor was never taught these terms in school.  However, what if someone asks about them…?

You could be a great writer without knowing the terms finite verb and non-finite verb. Yet, books sit on shelves, waiting to explain these obscure terms. Clearly they’re important to somebody.

Fundamentally, an academic believes that knowledge sitting quiescently in a book will serve useful if learned. In that spirit, let’s take a few minutes to find out about finite and non-finite verbs.

A finite verb is an action word being used as the action in a sentence:

They run each day before lunch.

In the sentence above, run is the finite verb.

A non-finite verb is an action word being used not as an action, but perhaps as a noun, adverb, or adjective:

She hired a coach to get feedback on her running.

Although running comes from the verb run, the word running functions as a noun in the sentence above.

Another name for non-finite verb is verbal. (See my post on verbals here.)

Perhaps, being mindful of the names of the various word constructions can help open the writer’s mind to possible ways to construct a given sentence.

HTH:)

Source:

Hodges, Horner et al. Harbrace Handbook for Canadians. Scarborough: Nelson    Education Ltd, 2003.

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.

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