Finite & Non-finite Verbs

1. Finite verbs - Verbs that are changed according to the person, number, and tense in relation to the subject. They are the main verbs of the sentence.

            i) Change in Verb due to Person: 

              First person ("I went to the theatre yesterday.")

Second person ("You play cricket occasionally.")

Third person ("They threatened the honest man.")

ii) Change in Verb due to Number:

Singular ("He criticises every new policy.")

Plural ("Thousands of people participate in the annual rally.")

iii) Change in Verb due to Tense: 

Present ("Vihan likes to doodle cartoons in his mathematics notebook."

Past ("We witnessed the memorable T20 world cup final")

Future ("They will visit the parent teaching meeting next week.")

            

2. Non-finite verbs : These are the verbs that remain same, irrespective of person, tense, and number in the sentence. These are secondary verbs in a sentence.

    Types of non-finite verbs:

    1) Infinitive: "to" is used before a verb, performs the work of verb-noun. For e.g. She likes to party 

2) Gerund: "-ing" is added before a verb and does the work of a noun. For e.g. Swimming is Rohan's pastime.

3) Participle: Performs the work of verb-adjective. For e.g. Having finished his icecream, he set his eyes on his mother's pudding.