Finite verb

From A+ Club Lesson Planner & Study Guide

Finite verb has a subject, conjugation and tense.

  • subject = the actor
  • conjugation = the subject-verb match
    • I am, you are, she does, we do, etc.
  • tense = past, present, future, continuous, etc.
    • I am going, she had gone, we will go, etc.
  • finite verbs indicate a specific action or state
  • non-finite verbs do not have a subject, and therefore do not indicate a specific action or state
    • infinitives
      • to do, to be, to have, etc.
      • may act as an adjective or nouon
    • participles
      • past or present participle adjectives (-ing or -ed verb forms acting as an adjective)
      • gerunds (-ing verb form acting as a noun)