Non-finite Verbs | Infinitive– Types, Uses and Examples

Verb is an inevitable part of a sentence. There are many types of verb like- Action verb, be-verb, have-verb, modal auxiliary verb and so on.

 Now we'll be discussing finite verbs and Non-finite verbs. This topic is very useful to make a sentence accuracy.

Finite and Non-finite verbs

Look at the sentences below –

1) I love to read.
2) We want to swim.
3) He loves singing.
4) She loves dancing.
5) She saw a moving car.
6) I see a running train.

In the sentences above, the verbs love, want, loves, loves, saw, see are finite verbs. 

And to read, to swim, singing, dancing, moving, running are non-finite verbs. 

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What is a finite verb?

When a verb is used according to its subject and tense then it is a finite verb.
In other words, if a verb changes its form according to its subject and tense then it is a finite verb.


In those sentences, the verbs love, want, loves, loves, saw, see change their forms with subject and tense; therefore, we can say, these verbs are used here as finite verbs.

How does a finite verb change its form with tense and subject?

Go is the first form of the verb go.

I go to school.	Present indefinite tense.
He goes to school.	Go becomes goes as the subject changes.
I went to school.	Go becomes went as the tense is a past indefinite.
I have gone to school.	Go becomes gone as the tense is present perfect.

Eat is the first form of the verb Eat.

I eat rice.	Present indefinite tense.
He eats rice.	Eat becomes eats as the subject changes.
I ate rice.	Eat becomes ate as the tense is a past indefinite.
I have eaten rice.	Eat becomes eaten as the tense changes to perfect.

What is a non-finite verb?

When a verb in a sentence does not change its form according to subject or tense, it is a non-finite verb.
In those sentences, the verbs to read, to swim, singing, dancing, moving, running do not change their forms.


Examples of non-finite verb:

I love to sing.	I love singing.	I see a moving car.
He loves to sing.	He loves singing.	He sees a moving car.
They loved to sing.	They loved singing.	They saw a moving car.

To sing in the first column, singing in the second column, moving in the third column are non-finite verbs.


Non-finite verbs are of three types –

• Infinitive [to + verb (base form)],
• Participle [verb + ing],
• Gerund [verb + ing].

Infinitive

Look at the following sentences. The sentences consist of infinitive.

1. I come to see my daughter.
2. Let me see my daughter.

Here, to see in sentence- 1. and see in sentence- 2. are infinitives. They do not change their form at any how.

So, here we find that there are two types of infinitive –

1. To-infinitive- (or, Infinitive with 'to')  and,
2. Bare infinitive. (Infinitive without to)

1) To-infinitive:

Structure – A to-infinitive is formed with 'to' plus verb (base form) i.e. to + V1.

• I like to eat pizzas.
• Ramit loves to criticise the government.

Use of to-infinitive:

Used as the subject –

• To err is human.
• To forgive is divine.
• To love is greatness.
• To laugh is an exercise.

Used as the object –

• I returned to take my umbrella.
• He goes to the shop to buy some chocolates.
• She told us to write an essay.
• How many time have I told you not to follow me.

Used as subject compliment –

• My dream is to become an administrator.
• He is about to come here.
• The most important thing is to save money.
• He is to find a taxi.
• She is to walk for an hour.

Used as adjective –

• I have no permission to take action.
• He has no house to live in.
• There is no audience to cheer.
• This is time to sleep.

Here the infinitives to take, to live, to cheer, to sleep are qualifying the nouns permission, house, audience, time respectively. Hence the infinitives are used here as adjectives.

Used as adverb –

• I am too weak to walk.
• It is not easy to get a job nowadays.
• We eager to visit the zoo.
• They were happy to meet their parents.
• We are ready to listen.

The infinitives to walk, to get, to visit, to meet, to listen are modifying the adjectives weak, easy, eager, happy, ready respectively. Hence, these infinitives are adverbs.



• To be more particular, you should not come here frequently.
• To be specific, we have to finish the work before 9th March.
• To be honest, I am not a good footballer.
• To tell the truth, I am not attentive at all.

The infinitives to be, to be, to be, to tell are modifying the respective clauses. Hence, these infinitives are adverbs.

ii) Bare Infinitive:

Base form of the main verb without a to.

• John must write to his boss.
• You made me laugh.
• Let me complete my part.

Though there is no to before the verbs write, laugh, complete, all these are infinitives because, they do not change their form according to subject or tense.

These are called bare infinitives.

Use of bare infinitive-

Used with modal auxiliary verbs –

• I will become a police officer.
• We shall win.
• You can do it.
• He could call her.
• Sam may drive today.
• John must write to his boss.
• I dare not go there.
• You needn’t say sorry.

Used with make:

• She makes me cry.
• You made me laugh.
• It makes me feel good.

Used with Let:

• Let me complete my part.
• Let us play chess.

Used with the verbs like see, feel, watch, notice, hear:

• Did you see the man go?
• I heard them laugh.
• We feel the car move.

Used with but or except:

If there is a do (do, did, does) as an action verb, and but or except in a sentence.

• I did nothing but sleep. (But + to + sleep will be wrong)
• She does everything but smile. (But + to + smile will be wrong)
• He does nothing except play. (Except + to + play will be wrong).

But,
if there is not a 'do' as an action verb, a to-infinitive is used.

• I try nothing but to stay safe.
• We try everything except to be happy.
• We want nothing but to become successful.

Used with why:

• Why bother the poor puppies? (To + bother is incorrect)
• Why not accept the challenge? (To + accept is  incorrect)

Credit:
We took reference from Lucent's General English book for this article.

Thank you...