Finite Verbs

Finite Verbs

About Finite Verbs

Verbs are the words that show the actions, processes, conditions of a person or any specific thing. Verbs form a part of predicate. Along with the subject, verbs are used to make a full sentence or part of a sentence. This shows that a sentence is incomplete without a verb. As in the predicate of the sentence, the verb is divided into two parts: Finite Verbs and Nonfinite Verbs.

Finite verbs are those verbs that consist of a subject and depict tenses, person, or about a thing. Such verbs describe the state of any noun in the sentence.

Let’s take some examples to clear about it more :

1. Two friends went to the park to play

In this sentence, two friends are the subject and they are going to the park. It describes the state.

2. The lion is the king of the jungle.
3. We all swim every day.

In all these sentences the action is expressed directly related to the subject of the part of the sentence.

A sentence needs a finite verb to make it look complete. If a sentence does not have a finite verb then it would be considered as a sentence without a predicate and would be not grammatically correct.

To understand more clearly, let’s take the following examples:

• “The car.”
• “The car on the bridge.“
• “The car on the bridge is standing.”

In the mentioned examples, the car is the subject, and to make it a complete sentence a predicate including a finite verb is required.

Rules For Identifying Finite Verbs

Sometimes in a sentence, many verbs are there with which it becomes difficult to identify the finite verbs. So here are some rules which help to identify Finite Verbs in sentences.

Rule no. 1 :  Third Person Singular Present Verb should end with ‘s’.

In any sentence, any verb that ends with ‘s’ is a finite verb. Non Finite verbs do not contain any tense in their sentences due to which they never end with ‘s’ and it becomes easy to identify Finite Verbs. There are some exceptions to this rule. Modal Verbs which can, will, could, would, should, shall, must, might can’t take ‘s’ ending but still they are considered to be as finite verbs.

For Example :

1. Man runs to the office every morning by metro.
2. The girl has four children in her house.
3. Boy kicks the football and makes a goal.

In all these sentences the finite verbs end with a -s.

Rule no. 2: Irregular verbs in Past tense are considered as Finite Verbs

Before understanding this rule, let us look at the irregular verbs. Irregular Verbs are those verbs whose pattern of functioning is different from the regular verbs. These verbs do not add ‘d’ or ‘ed’ in their past or past participle forms. Like: go-went-gone or fly-flew-flown etc. When the irregular verbs are used in a sentence, in their past tense or past participle tense, they are still considered as finite verbs. 

For Example :

1. Let’s take the usage of Go

– She went to the park.

– She had gone to the park.

In the above example, the first sentence shows the verb form went in past tense whereas in the next sentence had gone shows the verb in past participle form. In both cases they are finite verbs.

Rule no. 3: Verbs that follow subjects

Verbs that follow the subjects whose actions are being described in any sentence are marked as finite verbs. Non-finite verbs usually don’t follow the subject and it becomes easy to identify the finite verb in the sentence.

For Example :

1. People listened to songs.
2. Giraffes travel together to find food for their group.

In these examples, the finite verbs are followed by the subject. However, “to go” is a non-finite verb that does not follow the subject directly.

Finite Verbs Vs. Nonfinite Verbs

The finite verbs express a direct action that is related to the subject whereas non-finite verbs do not require a direct relation with the subject. When we identify finite verbs and Non-finite verbs in a sentence we find that a finite verb acts as the base of a sentence.

Let’s take some examples to identify the difference:

1. We hate working extra hours in the company.

In this sentence, ‘hate’ represents first-person and simple present tense. It is a finite verb whereas ‘working’ is a gerund, marked as a non-finite verb, in the sentence.

2. We have seen the movie on Netflix.

In this sentence, ‘have seen’ refers to the present perfect tense of the verb “see”. It is a finite verb.  

3. Rita lives in Delhi.

In this sentence, ‘lives’ refers to the third person in simple present tense and is a finite verb.

Conclusion

Verbs that are the base in any sentence are considered Finite verbs. These verbs depict the relation with the subject and change their form to convey the particular tense. Non-finite verbs, on the contrary, do not correspond with the subject nor do they change their forms. It is essential to learn about the finite verbs to be able to speak and write correctly in English.