Non-Finite Forms of Verbs

1.0What are Non-Finites?

Verbs can be divided into two categories:

• Finite verbs are governed/ limited by the person and number of the subject and the tense. Examples: I am driving. Rahul is driving. Vrinda drives to college. They drive very fast. In the above sentences, the verb 'drive' is governed by the person and number of the subjects, 'I', ‘Rahul', ‘Vrinda' and 'They' respectively.
• Non-finite verbs do not change their form with the change in number, person and tense of the sentence. Examples: I want to eat an apple. Vrinda loves to eat apples every day. They want to eat pancakes for breakfast. In the above sentences, the verb 'eat' does not change even though the person and number of the subject changes. Therefore, the verb 'eat' is a non-finite verb.

2.0Kinds of Non-Finite Form of Verbs

3.0- Infinitives

An infinitive is a verb in its base form (root form/the simple form of the verb). It is often preceded by to. Examples: I love to read. He was asked to leave the room. Many people want to join our club. Remember that although infinitives are verbs, they do not function as verbs.

Full Infinitives $\to$ Infinitives With 'To': An infinitive preceded by 'to' is called a full infinitive, so a full infinitive, consists of 'to + verb'.

• It is easy to criticize others. The captain hopes to win the game.
• The girl is too sick to walk.
• The children have come to see the exhibition.

Bare Infinitives $\to$ Infinitives Without 'To' An infinitive verb that does not contain 'to' forms a bare infinitive. Infinitives lose the 'to':

• When we use the bare infinitive after many verbs of perception (verbs used to perceive) like Feel, Hear, Help, Let, Make, See, Watch, etc. These verbs are followed by a direct object, then by an infinitive without the 'to'. Example: When I heard the alarm clock ring, I knew it was time to get up.

• This sentence uses the verb 'heard' followed by the direct object, 'alarm clock.'
• When infinitives follow the verb 'heard,' they lose the 'to.' We wouldn't say, 'I heard the alarm clock to ring,' or, 'I heard to ring.'
• So, 'alarm clock' is followed by the infinitive 'ring' without the 'to.'

• After had better, would rather, sooner than, rather than. When an adverb is put in between to and the verb, the infinitive is split in two parts and referred to as a split infinitive. Examples: You had better arrive on time. Seema would rather climb the stairs than take the lift. I would rather stay at home than go out tonight. It's cold. The children had better wear their coats.
• After than and but (when 'but' means except). Examples: He does nothing all day except sleep. She said she would die rather than surrender. She did nothing but study the entire day. The mechanic did more damage than repair.
• After modal auxiliaries such as shall, will, should, would, can, may, could, might, must. Can - I can tell you where he is if you like. Could - She could swim when she was three. May - She may head out to the party tonight. Might - Sophie might understand it better. Will - Will you please be quiet? Shall - They shall know this by tomorrow. Must - Harry, you must not cross a red light! Would - Would you be able to help me? Should - George should definitely run the marathon. However, we do not use the bare infinitive after need to, dare to and ought to, due to their nature (these modal auxiliaries are connected to 'to'): Ought to - You ought to know what he said. Need to - I need to buy grocery for I am running short of them. Dare to - They dared me to jump off.
• After verbs such as dare and need in negative sentences - Bare infinitives are used He dare not speak to me in this manner. He dare not to speak to me in this manner. (wrong)

Split Infinitives

When an adverb is put in between to and the verb, the infinitive is split in two parts and referred to as a split infinitive. Examples: I request you to kindly grant me leave. Rahul hopes to quickly finish his dinner. In this case, the adverb 'quickly' splits the infinitive 'to eat'. Thus, the combination 'to quickly finish', i.e. To + Adverb + V1 forms a split infinitive.

• Expressions with why and why not take the bare infinitive. Examples: Why worry about the future? Why not take a taxi?
• Certain verbs are usually followed by a gerund or infinitive phrase. Examples: She forgot to call me today. Avoid losing your temper while talking to him.

4.0Participle

Look at this sentence : Nobody could enter the burning house. The word burning is formed from the verb burn by adding 'ing'. But it describes the noun house so it is performing the work of an adjective. A participle is partly a verb and partly an adjective. It is a verbal adjective Examples: Speaking harsh words, the master stood up. (verb) The forgotten palace lies in ruins. (adjective)

A participle can be either present or past.

Present participle:

Verbs that take the -ing ending are called present participles. Example: We found the guests waiting for us.

• The word waiting is formed from the verb wait. So it seems to be a verb. But waiting in this sentence is describing the noun guests. So it is performing the work of an adjective.

Note : The participle can come before or after the noun it modifies.

The present participle is used for :

• Forming the progressive form. Example: I am going to your house now. (going is used with the verb be to make the progressive form)
• Modifying a noun as an adjective. We call such participles as verbal adjectives. Example: I like this dancing doll very much. (dancing modifies the noun doll)
• Forming a clause. Example: Who is the person making all the noise? (making combines with other words to form a clause)
• Modifying a verb, like an adverb. Example: He came crying into my office. (crying modifies the verb came)

Past participle :

Verbs that take the-ed or-en ending (or the third form for all irregular verbs) are called past participles. Example: I saw a broken pair of sunglasses on the table.

• Broken describes the pair of sunglasses and acts as an adjective in the above sentence.

Example: The injured man was taken to the hospital.

• Here injured describes the man and acts as an adjective.

The past participle is used for :

• Forming the perfect tense form. Example: I have visited the library twice. (visited is used with the verb have to make the present perfect tense)
• Forming the passive voice. Example: I was asked to come here. (asked is used with the be verb to make the passive voice)
• Modifying a noun. Example: He looked at the attached papers carefully. (attached modifies the noun papers)
• Participles that take the form having + past participle represent an action completed at some past time and are called perfect participles. Example: Having improved her English, she decided to move abroad.

5.0Gerunds

Gerunds are those verbs that take the '-ing' form. Gerunds have the same form as the present participle, but they act as a noun rather than a verb or a modifier. Since gerunds behave more like nouns, such verbs are also called verbal nouns. Examples: (a) Swimming is not only a sport but also a wonderful exercise. (subject) (b) The most undesirable practice among school children is nagging. (complement) (c) She dislikes cheating in examinations.

Following are the differences between finite and non-finite verbs:

• Participles that take the form having + past participle represent an action completed at some past time and are called perfect participles.

Recall

• Non-finite verbs are those verbs whose form is not determined by the number and person of the subject and tense of the sentence.
• Types of Non-Finite Verbs

• Infinitives
• Participle
• Gerunds

• An infinitive is a non-finite verb that is preceded by 'to.'
• Types of Infinitives

• Full Infinitive
• Bare Infinitive
• Split Infinitive

• An infinitive preceded by 'to' is called a full infinitive. Full Infinitive $=$ To + V1 Form of Verb
• An infinitive without 'to' is called a bare infinitive. Bare Infinitive = V1 Form of Verb
• An infinitive with an adverb inserted between 'to' and the first form of the verb is termed as 'Split Infinitive'. Split Infinitive $=$ To + Adverb + V1 Form of Verb
• The magical word that looks like a verb but often acts as an adjective is termed as a 'Participle.' Present Participle verb + ing form Past Participle III form of the verb
• Gerunds are those verbs that take the '-ing' form.
• Gerunds have the same form as the present participle, but they act as a noun rather than a verb or a modifier.