Finite and Non-finite verbs

Finite and Non-finite verbs

Multiple Choice

Determine if the finite verbs in the sentences below changes with tense, number or person.

The cats play daily.

The cat plays daily.

• Number

• Tense

• Person

Multiple Choice

Determine if the finite verbs in the sentences below changes with number, tense or person.

I slept late.

I will sleep late.

• Number

• Tense

• Person

Multiple Choice

Determine if the finite verbs in the sentences below change with number, tense or person.

I walk to school everyday.

She walks to school everyday.

• Tense

• Number

• Person

Multiple Choice

Determine how the non-finite verbs below has been used: noun, adjective or adverb.

Kwasi saw the crying cat.

• Adjective

• Adverb

• Noun

Multiple Choice

Determine how the non-finite verbs below has been used: noun, adjective or adverb.

Eating fills me with joy.

• Adjective

• Noun

• Adverb

Multiple Choice

Determine how the non-finite verbs below has been used: noun, adjective or adverb.

The teacher asked to student to sit.

• Noun

• Adjective

• Adverb

Finite and Non-finite clauses

The verbs in a finite clause can change tense but the verb in a non-finite clause cannot change tense.

Example:

Before eating, Abena washed her hands.

Before eating is the non-finite clause because you cannot change the verb in the clause. You cannot say : Before ate, Abena washed her hands. It will not make sense.

However, we can change the tense in the finite clause which is, Abena wahsed her hands. It can become: Abena washes her hands.

Before eating, Abena washes her hands

Open Ended

Write down the finite clause in the sentence below.

Walking gingerly, the girl noticed the difference.

Open Ended

Write down the non-finite clause in the sentence below.

Being amused, I clapped hard in the theater.

Open Ended

Write down the finite clause.

Shouting wildly, the terrified boy raced away from the menacing lion.