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a
anu
Dec 19, 2015 - 9:58AM
finite verb

what is finite verb





p
Paul Matthews
Dec 19, 2015 - 11:46AM
Re: finite verb

A finite verb is one that has primary (or tensed) form. There are two forms: the present form and past form:

1. Present tense: "She walks home". / "They walk home".
2. Past tense: "She walked home".

Only finite verbs can be used as the sole verb in a main clause. No auxiliary (helper) verbs are required, as the above examples demonstrate.

Finite verbs are in contrast with non-finite verbs which are not tensed and hence (with one exception) cannot be the only verb in a main clause.

There are three forms:

1. Gerund-participle: "She is bringing food". / "She remembers walking home".
2. Past participle: "She has brought food".
3. Infinitive: "She should bring food". / "Bring your own food".

In all but the very last of those examples, an auxiliary verb ("is", "has", "should") is required to make the sentence grammatical. The one exception is the 'imperative', as in "bring your own food", which although not strictly speaking a finite verb, can be the sole verb in a main clause.


PaulM

t
Tony Lee
Dec 19, 2015 - 9:29PM
Re: finite verb

Paul Matthews
A finite verb is one that has primary (or tensed) form. There are two forms: the present form and past form:

1. Present tense: "She walks home". / "They walk home".
2. Past tense: "She walked home".

Only finite verbs can be used as the sole verb in a main clause. No auxiliary (helper) verbs are required, as the above examples demonstrate.

Finite verbs are in contrast with non-finite verbs which are not tensed and hence (with one exception) cannot be the only verb in a main clause.

There are three forms:

1. Gerund-participle: "She is bringing food". / "She remembers walking home".
2. Past participle: "She has brought food".
3. Infinitive: "She should bring food". / "Bring your own food".

In all but the very last of those examples, an auxiliary verb ("is", "has", "should") is required to make the sentence grammatical. The one exception is the 'imperative', as in "bring your own food", which although not strictly speaking a finite verb, can be the sole verb in a main clause.


PaulM


But is it not true that the finite verbs can also be used with auxiliary verbs?

1) I am walking home.
2) They are walking home.

As you can see, is it not true that two sentenses above, the "be" verb are being used as an axiliary verb?

Also, it seems like some non-finite verb can be used as sole (main verb),

1) She brought food.

As you can see, the non-finite verb above only required one main verb to make this sentence work.

p
Paul Matthews
Dec 19, 2015 - 10:01PM
Re: finite verb

Tony Lee
Paul Matthews
A finite verb is one that has primary (or tensed) form. There are two forms: the present form and past form:

1. Present tense: "She walks home". / "They walk home".
2. Past tense: "She walked home".

Only finite verbs can be used as the sole verb in a main clause. No auxiliary (helper) verbs are required, as the above examples demonstrate.

Finite verbs are in contrast with non-finite verbs which are not tensed and hence (with one exception) cannot be the only verb in a main clause.

There are three forms:

1. Gerund-participle: "She is bringing food". / "She remembers walking home".
2. Past participle: "She has brought food".
3. Infinitive: "She should bring food". / "Bring your own food".

In all but the very last of those examples, an auxiliary verb ("is", "has", "should") is required to make the sentence grammatical. The one exception is the 'imperative', as in "bring your own food", which although not strictly speaking a finite verb, can be the sole verb in a main clause.


PaulM


But is it not true that the finite verbs can also be used with auxiliary verbs?

1) I am walking home.
2) They are walking home.

As you can see, is it not true that two sentenses above, the "be" verb are being used as an axiliary verb?

"Walking" is a non-finite verb (present participle).

Also, it seems like some non-finite verb can be used as sole (main verb),

1) She brought food.

As you can see, the non-finite verb above only required one main verb to make this sentence work.

"Brought" is a finite verb (past tense).


PaulM

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