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Non-finite verbs, are verb forms that do not show tense, person, or number. They include:
- Infinitives (e.g., to go, to see) - They often function as nouns or the base form of a verb
- Gerunds (e.g., going, seeing) - These act as nouns but are derived from verbs
- Participles (e.g., going, seen) - These can function as adjectives or part of verb tenses (like has gone)
Nonfinite verbs are used in constructions where there's no need to express tense directly. They help in creating sentences like "I want to go," where "to go" is nonfinite.
In the English language, a non-finite verb cannot perform action as the main verb of an independent clause.[1] Non-finite verb forms in some other languages include converbs, gerundives and supines. The categories of mood, tense, and or voice may be absent from non-finite verb forms in some languages.[2]
Because English lacks most inflectional morphology, the finite and the non-finite forms of a verb may appear the same in a given context.
- ^ On their lack of inflection, see, for instance, Radford (1997:508f.), Tallerman (1998:68), Finch (2000:92f.), and Ylikoski (2003:186)
- ^ E. Adelaide Hahn (1943). "Voice of Non-Finite Verb Forms in Latin and English". Transactions and proceedings of the American Philological Association. American Philological Association. 74: 269. doi:10.2307/283602. ISSN 0065-9711. Wikidata Q119529495.