What is the Difference Between Finite and Non-Finite Verbs?

Finite and non-finite verbs are two different types of verbs in English. Finite verbs are conjugated with the subject in a sentence and indicate the person, number, and tense of the subject. They are usually in the present, past, and future tenses. On the other hand, non-finite verbs are not conjugated with the subject in a sentence and do not indicate the person, number, or tense of the subject. They typically include infinitive forms (e.g., to go, go), gerunds (verb+ing), and past participles.

Differences between finite and non-finite verbs:

• Conjugation: Finite verbs are conjugated with the subject in a sentence, while non-finite verbs are not.
• Tense: Finite verbs indicate the tense of the sentence, while non-finite verbs do not.
• Person, Number, and Mood: Finite verbs express the mood, tense, number, and person, while non-finite verbs do not.

Examples of finite verbs:

• I am running.
• She was walking.
• They will go.

Examples of non-finite verbs:

• To run.
• Having walked.
• Going.

In summary, finite verbs are main verbs that agree with the subject and express the mood, tense, number, and person, while non-finite verbs are usually auxiliary or modal verbs that do not agree with the subject and can be used in the present participle, past participle, or infinitive forms.

Comparative Table: Finite vs Non-Finite Verbs

The main difference between finite and non-finite verbs lies in their ability to stand alone and convey tense, person, and number on their own. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between finite and non-finite verbs:

Finite verbs are directly related to their subjects and can stand alone as the main verb in a sentence, whereas non-finite verbs need other words to clarify their meaning and cannot stand alone.