English Grammar: Finite and Infinite verbs, Gerund, Participle Study Notes

English Grammar Study Note

Chapter: Finite and Infinite Verbs

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1. Verb – Meaning

A verb is a word that tells us about an action, state, or condition of a subject.

Examples:

• She reads daily.
• He is honest.
• They have money.

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2. Finite Verbs

Definition:

A Finite Verb is a verb that:

• Shows tense
• Changes according to the subject
• Can make a complete sentence

Characteristics:

✔ Has tense (present / past / future)
✔ Agrees with the subject (person & number)
✔ Main verb of a sentence

Examples:

• She writes neatly.
• They are playing chess.
• He was punished for his mistake.
• I will go tomorrow.

👉 In the sentence “She writes neatly”,
writes is the finite verb.

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3. Infinite (Non-Finite) Verbs

Definition:

An Infinite Verb does not change according to tense, number, or person and cannot form a sentence by itself.

Characteristics:

✖ No tense
✖ No subject agreement
✖ Depends on a finite verb

Examples:

• I want to study English.
• Walking is good for health.
• He sat reading quietly.

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4. Types of Infinite Verbs

A. Infinitive

Form: to + base form of verb

Examples:

• to read
• to write
• to play

Sentences:

• She wants to succeed.
• We decided to help him.
• He came here to meet me.

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B. Gerund

A Gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun.

Examples:

• Reading is a good habit.
• Swimming keeps the body fit.
• Playing cricket is fun.

Here, the words act as nouns, not verbs.

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C. Participle

A Participle is a verb form used as an adjective.

1. Present Participle (verb + ing)

• A crying baby
• The flowing river
• He came running to me.

2. Past Participle (third form of verb)

• A broken window
• A written letter
• The lost child was found.

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5. Finite vs Infinite Verbs (Difference)

Finite Verb	Infinite Verb
Shows tense	No tense
Changes with subject	No change
Completes sentence	Cannot complete sentence
Example: She sings	Example: to sing

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6. Important Exam Points

✔ Every sentence must have at least one finite verb
✔ There may be more than one infinite verb in a sentence
✔ Infinite verbs depend on finite verbs

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7. Solved Examples

1. She likes to read books.

   • likes → Finite
   • to read → Infinite (Infinitive)

2. Running fast is harmful.

   • Running → Infinite (Gerund)
   • is → Finite

3. He was sitting thinking silently.

   • was → Finite
   • sitting, thinking → Infinite (Participles)

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Summary

• Finite verbs show tense and complete meaning.
• Infinite verbs do not show tense and depend on finite verbs.
• Infinite verbs are of three types: Infinitive, Gerund, and Participle.