Non-Finite Verbs: Gerunds As Subjects

Non-finite Verbs
A non-finite verb is a verb form that does not show tense. In other words, you cannot tell if a
sentence is in the past tense, present tense, or future tense by looking at a non-finite verb.
Therefore, a non-finite verb is never the main verb in a sentence. (That's a finite verb.) There are
three types of non-finite verbs:
 Gerunds (e.g., "baking," "singing").

 Infinitives (e.g., "to bake," "to sing").
 Participles. There are two types:
 Present Participles (e.g., "baking," "singing").
 Past Participles (e.g., "baked," "sung").

Non-finite verbs function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs or combine with a finite verb for verb
tense.
Non-finite Verbs
(Gerunds)
A gerund is a noun formed from a verb. All gerunds end "-ing."
Gerunds as subjects:
 Reading is relaxing.
 Writing is an exchange of ideas.
Gerund phrases as subjects:
 Swimming laps is the most relaxing activity in the world.

 Filing papers can give you a paper cut.
Gerunds as direct objects:
 I love reading. (verb = love; love what? reading)

 Patrick likes photographing nature. (verb = likes; likes what? photographing)
Participles
A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective, to create verb tense, or to create
the passive voice.
There are three types of participles:
 Present participle (ending -ing)
 Past participle (usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n).
 Perfect Participle (Using Having)
Types of Participle
1. Present Participle – Present participles express active actions and work as adjectives.
They end in “-ing,” such as carrying, tapping, and sharing. For example;
1. I like that shining star.
2. A laughing girl is stronger than a complaining girl.
Here shining, laughing and complaining are the examples of present participles.
2. Past Participle – Past participles appear with passive actions. The past participle of
regular verbs ends in “-ed,” and the past participle of irregular verbs ends in “-d,” “-n,” “-
en,” or “-t,” such as spent, broken, and opened, etc. For example:
1. She has learned
2. Do not waste your time looking at a closed
Here learned and closed are examples of past participles.
3. Perfect Participle – A perfect participle is created by adding the word “having” to a past
participle. The perfect participle demonstrates an action that occurred in the past. It appears
like this: “Having + past participle …” For instance:
1. Having read a horror book, the girl rushed out of her room.
2. Having washed the dishes, Mary sat down to relax
Infinitive
1. What is an infinitive?
An infinitive is a verb that functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb in order to
express an opinion, purpose of an object or action, or answer the questions who,
what, or why.
An infinitive usually begins with the word “to” and is followed by the base
form of a verb (the simple form of the verb that you would find in the dictionary).
Examples of infinitives include to read, to run, to jump, to play, to sing, to laugh,
to cry, to eat, and to go.
Remember that although infinitives are verbs, they do not function as verbs,
instead they are used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Let’s look at some
examples.
infinitive (to+v1)=near future concept
I DECIDED TO GO TO MARKET.
I DECIDED.I WENT TO MARKET.
*DIRECT INFINITIVE=TO+V1
*BARE INFINITIVE=WITHOUT TO
HE CAME HERE TO GIVE ME A PROPOSAL.
YOU DON'T NEED TO WORK.
THE TEACHER LET HIM GO OUT.
*BARE INFINITIVE IS USED AFTER SOME VERBS-
"LET","MAKE","HELP","BID","WATCH","SEE"
ETC
MY MOTHER MAKES ME WRITE A STORY.
MY SISTER BID ME GOOD BYE.
SPLIT INFINITIVE
(TO+V1)
MY FATHER IS REQUESTED TO KINDLY STAY FOR A WHILE.
MY FATHER IS REQUESTED TO STAY KINDLY FOR A WHILE.
I DECIDED/TO GOING/THERE
*****
there are some special verbs phrase like-
"addicted to","look forward to","accustomed to","addition to","owing to","be

used to","object to","disposed to" etc
we use (to+gerund)
we are /looking forward to/ getTING a good place./NE
I HAVE COME HERE TO SEE YOU.

SEEING
WE HAVE COME HERE TO STUDY
WE HAVE COME HERE FOR STUDYING
I WAS ADDICTED TO DRINKING .......

Non-Finite Verbs: Gerunds As Subjects

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Non-finite Verbs

 Gerunds (e.g., "baking," "singing").

Gerund phrases as subjects:

 Swimming laps is the most relaxing activity in the world.

Gerunds as direct objects:

 I love reading. (verb = love; love what? reading)

Here learned and closed are examples of past participles.

I DECIDED.I WENT TO MARKET.

HE CAME HERE TO GIVE ME A PROPOSAL.

YOU DON'T NEED TO WORK.

THE TEACHER LET HIM GO OUT.

*BARE INFINITIVE IS USED AFTER SOME VERBS-

MY MOTHER MAKES ME WRITE A STORY.

MY SISTER BID ME GOOD BYE.

MY FATHER IS REQUESTED TO KINDLY STAY FOR A WHILE.

MY FATHER IS REQUESTED TO STAY KINDLY FOR A WHILE.

"addicted to","look forward to","accustomed to","addition to","owing to","be

I HAVE COME HERE TO SEE YOU.

I WAS ADDICTED TO DRINKING .......

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