FINITE VERBS

A finite verb is a verb that is inflected for person and for tense according to the rules and categories of the languages in which it occurs. Finite verbs can form independent clauses, which can stand by their own as complete sentences.

Read the sentences given below :

• We go to the cafe.
• He goes to the cafe.
• They go to the cafe.
• She goes to the cafe.
• I go to the cafe.

(The finite verb is "go")
 

A finite verb is a word like break, work, broke, sing, write etc. Finite verbs change their form according to the number and person of the subject. For instance, when the subject is a singular noun, the finite verb break changes its form into breaks. Finite verbs are also governed by the tenses. For instance, when the sentence is in the simple past tense, the finite verb break changes its form into broke. Similarly, work changes into worked and sing changes into sang in the past tense.



Non-finite verbs do not change their form according to the number and person of the subject. Examples are gerunds, participles and infinitives.

• I like swimming.
• He likes swimming.

Here the verb like is finite because it changes its form according to the number and person of the subject. The gerund reading is non-finite because it does not change its form according to the number and person of the subject.

Reading books is my hobby. (Reading – non finite; is – finite)
Reading books is his hobby.
Having read the book I returned it to the library. (Having read – non finite; returned – finite)