A nonfinite verb is a verb form that does not function as the main verb in a sentence and does not show tense, person, or number. Unlike finite verbs, which are limited by subject and tense (e.g., “She walks,” “He is running”), nonfinite verbs are not bound by these grammatical categories and typically serve as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs in a sentence. They often depend on a finite verb to complete the sentence’s meaning.
Nonfinite verbs are versatile and appear in various forms, such as infinitives, gerunds, and participles. Below is a comprehensive explanation of nonfinite verbs, their types, functions, and examples.
Types of Nonfinite Verbs
There are three main types of nonfinite verbs in English:
- Infinitives
- Gerunds
- Participles
Each type has distinct characteristics and uses, which we’ll explore in detail.
1. Infinitives
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, often preceded by the word “to” (e.g., “to walk,” “to eat”). However, it can also appear without “to” in certain cases, known as a bare infinitive. Infinitives can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
Forms of Infinitives
- To-infinitive: “to” + base verb (e.g., to sing, to dance)
- Bare infinitive: Base verb without “to” (e.g., sing, dance), used after modal verbs (can, should, must) or certain verbs like “let” or “make.”
Functions of Infinitives
- As a Noun: Acts as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
- Example: To learn is essential for personal growth. (Subject)
- Example: She loves to dance. (Object of the verb “loves”)
- As an Adjective: Modifies a noun.
- Example: I need a book to read. (Describes “book”)
- As an Adverb: Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often indicating purpose or reason.
- Example: She studies hard to succeed. (Shows purpose of “studies”)
Bare Infinitive Examples
- After modal verbs: You must finish your homework.
- After verbs like “let” or “make”: They made him apologize.
Notes
- The infinitive does not change based on the subject or tense.
- Split infinitives (inserting a word between “to” and the verb, e.g., “to boldly go”) are grammatically acceptable in modern English, though they may be avoided in formal writing.
2. Gerunds
A gerund is a verb form that ends in “-ing” and functions as a noun. It looks like a present participle but serves a different grammatical purpose.
Functions of Gerunds
- As a Subject: The gerund is the main focus of the sentence.
- Example: Swimming is great exercise.
- As an Object: Follows a verb or preposition.
- Example: She enjoys painting. (Object of “enjoys”)
- Example: He is good at cooking. (Object of the preposition “at”)
- As a Complement: Describes or renames the subject.
- Example: Her favorite activity is reading.
Gerund vs. Present Participle
- A gerund acts as a noun: Singing makes her happy. (Subject)
- A present participle acts as an adjective or part of a verb phrase: She is a singing bird. (Adjective) / She is singing loudly. (Part of the verb phrase)
Notes
- Gerunds are always in the “-ing” form and do not change based on tense or subject.
- Some verbs (e.g., enjoy, avoid, consider) are typically followed by gerunds, not infinitives: “I enjoy swimming” (not “I enjoy to swim”).
3. Participles
A participle is a verb form that functions as an adjective or as part of a verb phrase. There are two main types:
- Present Participle: Ends in “-ing” (e.g., running, singing).
- Past Participle: Typically ends in “-ed,” “-en,” “-t,” or other irregular forms (e.g., walked, broken, burnt).
Functions of Participles
- As an Adjective: Modifies a noun.
- Present Participle: The crying baby woke everyone. (Describes “baby”)
- Past Participle: The broken window needs repair. (Describes “window”)
- As Part of a Verb Phrase: Combines with auxiliary verbs to form perfect or progressive tenses.
- Present Participle: She is singing beautifully. (Part of the present progressive tense)
- Past Participle: They have finished the project. (Part of the present perfect tense)
Perfect Participle
- Combines “having” with a past participle to show completed action.
- Example: Having completed the task, she relaxed. (Describes a prior action)
Notes
- Participles do not act as the main verb in a sentence unless combined with an auxiliary verb.
- Misplaced or dangling participles can create unclear sentences:
- Incorrect: Running quickly, the bus was missed. (Implies the bus was running)
- Correct: Running quickly, she missed the bus.
Key Characteristics of Nonfinite Verbs
- No Tense: Nonfinite verbs do not indicate past, present, or future on their own.
- No Subject Agreement: They do not change based on the subject’s number or person.
- Dependent Role: They often rely on a finite verb to form a complete sentence.
- Versatile Functions: They can act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, depending on the type.
Examples in Sentences
Here’s a table summarizing nonfinite verbs with examples:
| Type | Example Sentence | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | I want to travel the world. | Noun (object of “want”) |
| Bare Infinitive | She can sing beautifully. | Verb (after modal “can”) |
| Gerund | Reading books is her hobby. | Noun (subject) |
| Present Participle | The shining stars lit up the sky. | Adjective (describes “stars”) |
| Past Participle | The stolen car was found. | Adjective (describes “car”) |
| Perfect Participle | Having finished her work, she left. | Adverb (describes prior action) |
Common Verbs Followed by Infinitives or Gerunds
Some verbs in English are followed by either infinitives or gerunds, and the choice can change the meaning:
- Like: I like to swim (conscious choice) vs. I like swimming (general enjoyment).
- Stop: She stopped to talk (paused to start talking) vs. She stopped talking (ended the action of talking).
Verbs Followed by Infinitives
- Want, agree, plan, hope, decide, promise
- Example: I hope to visit Paris.
Verbs Followed by Gerunds
- Enjoy, avoid, consider, admit, deny, suggest
- Example: He enjoys hiking.
Verbs Allowing Both (with Different Meanings)
- Try: She tried to call (attempted to call) vs. She tried calling (experimented with calling).
- Forget: I forgot to lock the door (didn’t do it) vs. I forgot locking the door (don’t remember doing it).
Common Mistakes with Nonfinite Verbs
- Confusing Gerunds and Participles:
- Incorrect: Swimming in the pool, the water was cold. (Dangling participle)
- Correct: Swimming in the pool, she felt cold.
- Using Infinitives Instead of Gerunds:
- Incorrect: I enjoy to swim.
- Correct: I enjoy swimming.
- Misplacing Infinitives or Participles:
- Incorrect: I bought a book to read yesterday. (Unclear if “yesterday” modifies “bought” or “to read”)
- Correct: I bought a book yesterday to read.
Practice Sentences
Identify the nonfinite verb and its function in each sentence:
- To win the game, you need strategy. (Infinitive, noun/subject)
- The barking dog scared the visitors. (Present participle, adjective)
- She loves singing in the choir. (Gerund, noun/object)
- Broken by the storm, the tree fell. (Past participle, adjective)
- I saw him run across the field. (Bare infinitive, verb object)
Summary
Nonfinite verbs (infinitives, gerunds, and participles) are essential in English for adding flexibility and variety to sentences. They do not function as main verbs and are not limited by tense or subject agreement. Understanding their forms and functions helps in constructing clear and effective sentences. By recognizing how infinitives act as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs, gerunds as nouns, and participles as adjectives or parts of verb phrases, you can use nonfinite verbs accurately in writing and speech.
