The Verb: Non-Finite Forms | English Grammar Class 7 PDF Download

Non-finite Verbs

Non-finite verbs are verb forms that do not show person, number or tense. They cannot act as the main verb of a clause that carries a tense by themselves. The three main types of non-finite verbs are listed below.

• Infinitive
• Gerund
• Participle

The Infinitive

The infinitive is the base form of a verb. It is not limited by person or number and often appears with the particle to (for example, to sleep, to play, to read). When the base form appears without to, it is called the bare infinitive (for example, see, make, help when they follow certain verbs or modals).

Kinds of infinitive

Infinitives are used in different ways. Two common uses are described here.

Simple / Noun infinitive: The infinitive functions like a noun (subject, object or complement). Examples:

• To sleep is good for health.
• I like to play chess.

Qualifying (Adjective) infinitive: The infinitive qualifies a noun or is used much like an adjective. Examples:

• I have no horse to sell.
• This book is good to read.

Bare infinitive (infinitive without “to”)

The bare infinitive (base form without to) is used in several situations. Examples below illustrate common uses.

• After verbs of perception: I saw her dance.
• After modal verbs and certain auxiliary constructions: You must leave this place.
• After do/does/did in negative and interrogative forms: I do not take tea.
• After verbs like let, make, help in active voice: They let him go.

Infinitive in passive and special constructions

When the action is expressed in the passive, the infinitive usually appears with to be + past participle: She was seen to dance. In some archaic or literary expressions, verbs like bid may take to in passive: He was bidden to sing.

Certain comparative and preference expressions take bare infinitives after them: He would rather die than steal. Expressions such as had better, sooner than, rather than are followed by the bare infinitive: She could do nothing but weep.

The Gerund

A gerund is the -ing form of a verb used as a noun. Because it retains the verb’s sense while functioning as a noun, it is sometimes called a verbal noun. Gerunds answer the same grammatical questions as nouns (who? what?), but they denote actions or processes.

Uses of the gerund

• As subject of a verb: Sleeping is necessary for health.
• As object of a verb: He started marching ahead. (or He started marching.)
• As object of a preposition: Children are fond of playing.
• As complement of a verb (subject complement): His weakness is drinking.
• As part of an expression or in apposition: It is no use running after shadows.

Participle

A participle is a non-finite verb form used as part of verb phrases or as an adjective. Participles are often called verbal adjectives because they describe nouns while retaining verbal properties. There are three main kinds of particles used in English.

Present participle

The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the base verb. It is used in several ways.

• To form continuous tenses: I am reading a novel.
• As an adjective (modifying a noun): Barking dogs seldom bite.
• As a subject complement after some verbs: The exercise was tiring.
• To form participle clauses that show action simultaneous with the main verb: Walking quickly, she reached the school on time.

Past participle

The past participle usually ends in -ed for regular verbs and takes various forms for irregular verbs. As a non-finite form it is commonly used in perfect and passive constructions and also as an adjective.

• As an adjective: A burnt child dreads the fire.
• As an adverbial/participial modifier giving a completed sense: The patient left the hospital cured.
• With auxiliary verbs to form perfect and passive constructions: She has eaten. | The letter was written.

Perfect participle

The perfect participle (having + past participle) expresses that one action was completed before another action took place. It is used to show the sequence of completed actions.

• Having fed the cow, he milked her.
• The sun having risen, we returned home.

How to identify and distinguish non-finite forms

Some practical pointers to tell these forms apart:

• Infinitive: base form often with to (to + verb) or without to (bare infinitive). Functions as noun, adjective or adverb. Example: To learn is useful.
• Gerund: verb + -ing used as a noun. Often appears as subject, object or after prepositions. Example: Swimming is good exercise.
• Present participle: verb + -ing used as adjective or to form continuous tenses. Check whether it modifies a noun or helps form a tense. Example: A running horse. vs He is running.
• Past participle: usually -ed (regular) or irregular form; used in perfect and passive forms and as adjective. Example: A broken window.
• Perfect participle: having + past participle; shows that the action is completed before another. Example: Having finished his work, he went out.

Common errors and useful tips

• Do not confuse the gerund and the present participle. Both are -ing forms, but gerunds act as nouns while present participles act as adjectives or form continuous tenses.
• Remember when to use the bare infinitive: after modals (can, will, must, might), after verbs of perception (see, hear), and after verbs like let, make, help in active voice.
• Use to + infinitive when a verb requires it (e.g., want to, plan to). In passive constructions of perception verbs, the pattern is often to + infinitive: She was seen to leave.
• The perfect participle is useful to show the order of events clearly and concisely: Having completed the test, she left the hall.

Summary: Infinitives (to + verb or bare), gerunds (verb + ing used as noun) and participles (present, past, perfect) are the three non-finite verb forms. Learn their forms, common uses and the differences between them to identify and use them correctly in sentences.