Do you know what gives your sentences clarity and completeness? This is precisely what finite verbs do, by connecting them to the subject matter and by indicating when an action is performed. Let’s see how they function.
What is a Finite Verb?
Finite verbs agree with the subject and indicate tense, incorporating time in a sentence and creating clarity. For example, in “She plays guitar,” the verb “plays” gives a sense of the present time and clearly shows the action.
Importance Of Finite Verbs Why Are Finite Verbs Relevant?
These verbs are important because they are the ones that set up the main action, plus the timing in the sentence, so you can easily understand its form. For example, “They studied all night.” The word “studied” is past tense, grounding the sentence in time.
Common Finite Verbs
Here are a few you might use every day:
-
Go
-
Eat
-
Think
-
Run
Examples:
- “I go to school.”
- “They eat breakfast every day.”
Identifying Finite Verbs
Find a verb that agrees with the subject and shows tense:
- “She reads every morning.” (finite)
- “We walk together every evening.” (finite)
Finite vs. Non-Finite Verbs
Finite Verbs
Non-Finite Verbs
For example, non-finite verbs (e.g. “to play” or “playing”) don’t show time and don’t agree with the subject.
Finite Verbs in Real Situation
Our everyday sentences take meaning from finite verbs:
- At School: “The teacher explains the lesson.”
- At Home: “They cook dinner together.”
By recognizing finite verbs, you can bring clarity to your writing, making it more effective and engaging.
