Finite Verbs

Finite verbs (sometimes called main verbs) are verb forms suitable for use in predicates in that they carry inflections or other formal characteristics limiting their number(singular / plural), person, and tense(past / present etc). Finite verbs can function on their own as the core of an independent sentence.

The finite forms of a verb are the forms where the verb shows tense, person or number.

Non-finite verb forms have no person or number, but some types can show tense.

For example

• I walked, they walk, and she walks are finite verbs
  * (to) walk is an infinitive.
• I lived in Germany.
  * "I" is the subject. "Lived" describes what the subject did. "Lived" is a finite verb.

Examples

• The truck demolished the restaurant.
• The leaves were yellow and sickly.

·   Finite verb forms include: I go, she goes, he went

·   Non-finite verb forms include: to go, going, gone

·         Infinitive

Definition: Infinitive is the base form of the verb. The infinitive form of a verb is the form which follows "to".

For example:

·  (to) go, (to) be,(to) ask, (to) fight, (to) understand, (to) walk .

Infinitives may occur with or without the infinitive marker "to". Infinitives without "to" are known as "bare infinitives".

For example:

·  Help me open the door.

OTHER FORMS
The infinitive can have the following forms:

1. The perfect infinitive
   to have + past participle
   
   For example: to have broken, to have seen, to have saved.
   This form is most commonly found in Type 3 conditional sentences, using the conditional perfect.
   
   For example:
• If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake.
• Someone must have broken the window and climbed in.
• I would like to have seen the Taj Mahal when I was in India.
• He pretended to have seen the film.
• If I'd seen the ball I would have caught it.

2. The continuous infinitive
   to be + present participle
   
   For example: to be swimming, to be joking, to be waiting
   
   Examples:
• I'd really like to be swimming in a nice cool pool right now.
• You must be joking!
• I happened to be waiting for the bus when the accident happened.

3. The perfect continuous infinitive
   to have been + present participle
   
   Examples: to have been crying, to have been waiting, to have been painting
   
   Examples:
• The woman seemed to have been crying.
• You must have been waiting for hours!
• He pretended to have been painting all day.

4. The passive infinitive
   to be + past participle
   
   For example: to be given, to be shut, to be opened
   
   Examples:
• I am expecting to be given a pay-rise next month.
• These doors should be shut.
• This window ought to be opened.

NOTE: As with the present infinitive, there are situations where the "to" is omitted.

Examples

• He claimed to be an expert.
• I managed to reach the top of the hill.
• Don't pretend that you know the answer.
• She failed to explain the problem clearly.
• The customs man demanded to search our luggage.
• I can't afford to go out tonight.