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What Are Non-finite Verbs?

What Are Non-Finite Verbs?

A non-finite verb (also known as a verbal) is the term used to describe a verb that is not showing tense.

In other words, it a verb form which is not acting like a verb (or, at least, the type of verb you need to form a sentence).

There are three types of non-finite verbs: gerunds, infinitives, and participles. Look at these examples (non-finite verbs shaded):

• I hate camping.
(Camping is a non-finite verb. In fact, it is a gerund, i.e., a noun formed from a verb. The giveaway for a gerund is the -ing ending.)
• I want to go there.
(To go is a non-finite verb. It is an infinitive, i.e., the base form of a verb. The giveaway for an infinitive is often, but not always, the to before it.)
• We ate our roasted marshmallows.
(Roasted is a non-finite verb. It is a participle, a type of adjective. There is no real giveaway for a participle, but lots of participles end in -ed and -ing.)

Some more examples (non-finite verbs shaded):

• I started screaming at my parents for trying to send me to camp.
(Screaming and trying - gerunds)
(To send - infinitive verb)
• Arriving late, I saw the other kids and they seemed to be excited.
(Arriving - present participle)
(to be - infinitive verb)
(excited - past participle.)
• We sang songs around the campfire and toasted marshmallows.
(There are no non-finite verbs in this example.)

Non-finite Verbs Test

Below is a quick test on non-finite verbs.