A nonfinite verb is a verb form that does not change according to the subject, tense, or number of a sentence. Unlike a finite verb, a nonfinite verb does not independently show whether an action happens in the present, past, or future. Instead, it functions in a sentence as a noun, adjective or adverb, or forms part of a larger verb phrase. Common examples include to read, reading, written, broken and laughing. Nonfinite verbs are extremely common in everyday English, even though the term may sound technical.
Understanding nonfinite verbs becomes much easier when you look at their three main forms: infinitives, gerunds, and participles. For example, in “I want to learn,” to learn is a nonfinite infinitive. In “Swimming is enjoyable,” swimming is a gerund. In “The broken window needs replacing,” broken is a participle. Learning to identify these forms can help you understand sentence structure, verb phrases, clauses, and English grammar more confidently.
Quick Answer
A nonfinite verb is a verb form that does not show tense, person, or number by itself and cannot normally function as the main finite verb of an independent clause.
The main types are:
- Infinitives: to read, to write
- Gerunds: reading, writing
- Participles: reading, written, broken
What Is a Nonfinite Verb?
A nonfinite verb is a verb form that does not act as a finite verb.
A finite verb can show features such as:
- tense
- person
- number
A nonfinite verb does not independently carry these grammatical features.
Compare:
She works every day.
Here, works is a finite verb. It agrees with the subject she and expresses present tense.
Now consider:
She likes working every day.
Here, likes is finite, while working is nonfinite.
The form working does not change according to the subject:
She likes working.
They like working.
I like working.
The nonfinite form remains working.
Finite Verb vs Nonfinite Verb
| Feature | Finite Verb | Nonfinite Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Shows tense | Yes | Not by itself |
| Shows subject agreement | Often | No |
| Changes for person/number | Sometimes | Generally no |
| Can serve as the main verb of an independent clause | Yes | No |
| Examples | runs, ran, is, were | to run, running, run |
| Common forms | Present/past forms | Infinitives, gerunds, participles |
Example
She walks to school.
Walks is finite.
She enjoys walking to school.
Enjoys is finite, while walking is nonfinite.
Types of Nonfinite Verbs
There are three major types of nonfinite verb forms in English:
- Infinitives
- Gerunds
- Participles
Let’s look at each one.
1. Infinitives
An infinitive is usually formed with:
to + base verb
Examples:
- to eat
- to sleep
- to study
- to work
- to learn
- to write
- to travel
These are nonfinite forms because they do not change according to the subject.
Examples
I want to leave.
She wants to leave.
They want to leave.
The infinitive to leave stays the same.
Bare Infinitive
English also has a bare infinitive, which is the base form without to.
Examples:
She made me laugh.
I saw him run.
You should study.
The forms laugh, run, and study are nonfinite in these constructions.
2. Gerunds
A gerund is an -ing form that functions as a noun.
Examples:
- swimming
- reading
- running
- writing
- cooking
- dancing
Examples
Reading is useful.
I enjoy cooking.
Swimming is good exercise.
In these examples, the -ing forms behave like nouns.
Compare:
Swimming is enjoyable.
Here, swimming is the subject of the sentence.
I enjoy swimming.
Here, swimming is the object of the verb enjoy.
3. Participles
Participles are another major type of nonfinite verb form.
There are two important types:
Present Participle
The present participle usually ends in -ing:
- running
- laughing
- singing
- working
- crying
Example:
The crying baby needs attention.
Here, crying describes the noun baby, so it functions as a participle.
Past Participle
Past participles often end in -ed, but many are irregular.
Examples:
- worked
- finished
- written
- broken
- eaten
- gone
- seen
Example:
The broken window needs replacing.
Here, broken describes window.
Nonfinite Verb Examples
Here are examples of the three main types:
- I want to learn English.
- She decided to leave early.
- Reading improves vocabulary.
- He enjoys playing football.
- The broken chair needs repair.
- The written instructions were clear.
- She made me laugh.
- They watched him run across the field.
- Walking every morning can be relaxing.
- I found a lost wallet.
- He hopes to travel next year.
- The shining stars looked beautiful.
How to Identify a Nonfinite Verb
A useful way to identify a nonfinite verb is to ask whether the verb form itself shows tense or subject agreement.
Step 1: Look at the verb form
Check whether it is:
- to + verb
- an -ing form
- a participle such as written, broken, eaten, gone
Step 2: Check whether it changes with the subject
Consider:
I want to go.
She wants to go.
The finite verb changes:
- want
- wants
But to go does not change.
Therefore, to go is nonfinite.
Step 3: Find the finite verb
In:
She wants to leave.
wants = finite verb
to leave = nonfinite verb
Why Are Nonfinite Verbs Important?
Nonfinite verbs allow English speakers and writers to create more flexible and concise sentences.
Compare:
She opened the door and she walked inside.
with:
Opening the door, she walked inside.
The nonfinite form opening helps combine ideas efficiently.
They are particularly common in:
- academic writing
- formal writing
- instructions
- reports
- descriptions
- complex sentences
- reduced clauses
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Thinking Every Verb Is Finite
A sentence can contain both finite and nonfinite verbs.
She has finished her work.
Here:
- has = finite
- finished = nonfinite participle
Mistake 2: Thinking Every ing Word Is a Gerund
Not every -ing form is a gerund.
Compare:
Swimming is fun.
Here, swimming functions as a noun, so it is a gerund.
The swimming child waved.
Here, swimming describes the child, so it functions as a participle.
The form is the same, but its grammatical function is different.
Mistake 3: Thinking “To” Always Introduces an Infinitive
Usually:
I want to learn.
But to can also be a preposition:
I look forward to meeting you.
Here, to is a preposition, so meeting is an -ing form.
Mistake 4: Assuming Past Participles Are Always Past Tense
A past participle does not necessarily indicate past time.
For example:
She has written the letter.
Written is a past participle, but the overall tense is present perfect, created by the finite auxiliary has.
Nonfinite Verb vs Finite Verb: A Simple Example
Consider:
The students are studying for the exam.
Here:
- are = finite verb
- studying = nonfinite present participle
Now change the subject:
The student is studying for the exam.
The finite verb changes:
are → is
But:
studying → studying
does not change.
That is one of the easiest ways to recognize a nonfinite form.
Nonfinite Verbs in Verb Phrases
Nonfinite verbs frequently appear with auxiliary verbs.
For example:
She has finished her work.
They have finished their work.
In these sentences:
- has/have = finite
- finished = nonfinite past participle
Another example:
He is running.
Here:
- is = finite
- running = nonfinite present participle
And:
They will leave soon.
Here:
- will = finite auxiliary
- leave = bare infinitive/nonfinite form
Memory Trick
Remember:
Finite = fixed to tense/subject
Nonfinite = not fixed to tense/subject
Or use this simple question:
Does this verb form change to show who or when?
If yes, it may be finite.
If it does not independently show tense or agreement, it may be nonfinite.
American vs British English
The concept of nonfinite verbs is the same in American and British English.
Both varieties use:
- infinitives
- gerunds
- present participles
- past participles
- bare infinitives
There can be differences between American and British English in particular verb constructions, but the basic definition of a nonfinite verb does not change.
Similar Grammar Terms
Finite Verb
A verb that can function as the main verb of a clause and expresses grammatical information such as tense or agreement.
Infinitive
A nonfinite verb form such as:
to read
Gerund
An -ing form functioning as a noun:
Reading is enjoyable.
Present Participle
An -ing form used in participial constructions:
The smiling child waved.
Past Participle
A verb form such as:
written, broken, eaten, finished
Auxiliary Verb
A helping verb such as:
be, have, do, can, will, should
Auxiliary verbs can combine with nonfinite verb forms to create larger verb phrases.
FAQs
What is a nonfinite verb?
A nonfinite verb is a verb form that does not independently show tense, person, or number and cannot normally function as the main finite verb of an independent clause.
What are the three types of nonfinite verbs?
The main types are infinitives, gerunds, and participles.
Is “to go” a nonfinite verb?
Yes. To go is an infinitive and is a nonfinite verb form.
Is “running” a nonfinite verb?
Yes, running is a nonfinite form. Depending on its function, it can be a gerund or a present participle.
Is a past participle a nonfinite verb?
Yes. Forms such as written, broken, eaten, and finished are nonfinite past participles.
What is the difference between finite and nonfinite verbs?
A finite verb can show grammatical information such as tense and subject agreement and can serve as the main verb of an independent clause. A nonfinite verb does not independently do this.
Is “has” a finite or nonfinite verb?
In “She has finished,” has is the finite auxiliary because it carries present-tense and subject-agreement information. Finished is the nonfinite past participle.
Is “working” always a gerund?
No. Working can be a gerund or a present participle depending on its grammatical function.
Working is important. → gerund
The working machine is noisy. → participle
Final Verdict
A nonfinite verb is a verb form that does not independently express tense, person, or number. It cannot normally serve as the main finite verb of an independent clause by itself.
The three main categories to remember are:
- Infinitive: to write
- Gerund: writing
- Participle: written / writing
The easiest way to identify one is to look at how the verb behaves in the sentence. If another verb carries the tense or subject agreement while the verb form remains unchanged, you are often looking at a nonfinite verb.
Remember This
Finite verbs carry the tense or agreement; nonfinite forms do not independently carry it.
to study, studying, studied, written, and broken are examples of nonfinite verb forms.
Conclusion
Nonfinite verbs may sound like a complicated grammar concept, but the idea is straightforward once you compare them with finite verbs. A finite verb carries grammatical information such as tense or agreement, while a nonfinite verb form does not independently do so. This is why forms such as to read, reading, written and broken can appear in many different sentence structures without changing according to the subject.
The three main types infinitives, gerunds and participles are everywhere in English. Once you learn to recognize these forms and distinguish their grammatical functions, sentence analysis becomes much easier. The key is not simply to memorize the word “nonfinite,” but to notice whether the verb form itself carries tense or subject agreement.
