21 Feb Finite Verb Definition and Examples
A finite verb is a verb that is inflected to agree with its subject in person, number, and tense, and which expresses a complete thought or action.
In other words, it is a verb that is used to make a statement or ask a question and is conjugated to indicate the time at which the action takes place.
For example, in the sentence “She sings beautifully,” the verb “sings” is a finite verb because it agrees with the subject “she” and indicates the present tense.
On the other hand, in the sentence “To sing is her passion,” the verb “sing” is not a finite verb because it is in its base form and does not indicate tense or agreement with a subject.
Finite Verb Definition and Examples
A finite verb is a verb that has a specific tense and agrees with the subject of the sentence. It is used to express a complete thought and can stand alone as the main verb in a sentence.
Here are some examples of sentences with finite verbs:
1. She is studying for her exam. (“is studying” is a finite verb in the present continuous tense)
2. They will visit their grandparents tomorrow. (“will visit” is a finite verb in the future tense)
3. He has finished his homework. (“has finished” is a finite verb in the present perfect tense)
4. We went to the beach last weekend. (“went” is a finite verb in the past tense)
5. Are you coming to the party tonight? (“are coming” is a finite verb in the present continuous tense and the subject “you” is implied)
What are 10 Finite Verbs?
Sure, here are 10 examples of finite verbs:
1. Walks
2. Talked
3. Eats
4. Will sing
5. Is running
6. Has played
7. Are reading
8. Were dancing
9. Am writing
10. Had studied
These verbs express a specific tense and agree with the subject of the sentence. For example, “walks” agrees with the subject “he/she/it” and is in the present tense, while “talked” is in the past tense and “will sing” is in the future tense.
How Do You Identify Finite Verbs?
Finite verbs are a crucial part of grammar that help convey the tense, mood, and aspect of a sentence. Identifying finite verbs is important for sentence analysis, understanding verb agreement, and constructing sentences that are grammatically correct.
Here are some ways to identify finite verbs:
Look for Tense
Finite verbs are always inflected to show the tense of the sentence. The most common tenses are present, past, and future.
For example, “I am running” is in the present tense, “I ran” is in the past tense, and “I will run” is in the future tense. In these examples, “am running,” “ran,” and “will run” are all finite verbs because they show the tense of the sentence.
Check for Subject-verb Agreement
Finite verbs must agree with the subject of the sentence in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).
For example, “He walks to school” has a singular subject and a singular finite verb, while “They walk to school” has a plural subject and a plural finite verb.
Look for the Main Verb in a Sentence
A sentence can have one or more verbs, but only one of them will be the main verb that carries the tense of the sentence.
The main verb is always a finite verb. For example, in the sentence “He is eating a sandwich,” the main verb is “is eating,” which is a finite verb in the present continuous tense.
Check for the Absence of “to” Before the Verb
Finite verbs are not preceded by “to” in their base form. For example, “I want to eat” has a non-finite verb (“to eat”), while “I eat” has a finite verb (“eat”).
Additionally, in the sentence “She wants to dance,” “wants” is a finite verb while “to dance” is a non-finite verb.
Check for the Ability to Stand Alone as a Sentence
A finite verb can function as the main verb in a sentence and can stand alone to form a complete sentence. For example, “I danced” is a sentence that has a finite verb (“danced”) as its main verb and expresses a complete thought.
Look for Inflection for Person and Number
Finite verbs are inflected to indicate the person and number of the subject. For example, “I walk,” “you walk,” and “he/she/it walks” are all inflected differently based on the person and number of the subject, but they are all finite verbs.
Check for the Presence of Helping Verbs
A finite verb can be accompanied by one or more helping verbs to form a verb phrase. Helping verbs include “be,” “have,” “do,” and modal verbs like “can,” “may,” and “should.” For example, “She is walking,” “I have walked,” and “He can walk” are all sentences that have a finite verb as the main verb and one or more helping verbs.
In summary, finite verbs are essential in constructing grammatically correct sentences that express a complete thought.
They show the tense of a sentence and agree with the subject in number and person. By looking for tense, subject-verb agreement, main verbs, absence of “to,” ability to stand alone as a sentence, inflection for person and number, and the presence of helping verbs, you can easily identify finite verbs in a sentence.
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