All About Finite verbs: Definitions, Rules, and Common Mistakes

Finite verbs are verbs that show tense, agree with the subject, and function as the main verb in a sentence. They are essential for constructing meaningful sentences and help to indicate whether the action is occurring in the present, past, or future. For example, in the sentence “She writes a letter,” the verb “writes” is finite.

What is a Finite Verb?

A finite verb is a verb that is marked by tense and agrees with the subject in terms of number (singular/plural) and person. It is the backbone of a sentence because it indicates the time frame of the action or state. For instance, “run” becomes “ran” in the past tense and “runs” in the third-person singular present tense.

Finite verb वह verb होता है जो tense दिखाता है और subject के साथ number और person के अनुसार agree करता है। यह sentence का मुख्य भाग होता है, जो action या state का समय दर्शाता है। जैसे, “run” का past tense “ran” है और third-person singular present tense “runs”।

 

Definition of Finite Verb

A finite verb is defined as a verb that changes its form according to the subject and the tense of the sentence. This distinct feature differentiates finite verbs from non-finite verbs (such as infinitives, gerunds, and participles) that do not change with tense or subject. Examples include “eat” (He eats, They eat) and “was” (She was, They were).

Finite verb वह होता है जो subject और tense के अनुसार अपना रूप बदलता है। यह non-finite verbs (जैसे infinitives, gerunds, और participles) से अलग होता है, जो tense या subject के अनुसार नहीं बदलते। Example के लिए, “eat” (He eats, They eat) और “was” (She was, They were)।

 

Tricky Finite Verb Examples

While finite verbs are essential for sentence construction, they can be tricky when it comes to subject-verb agreement, tense usage, or identifying the main verb. Here are examples of common mistakes with finite verbs:

Finite verbs में subject-verb agreement, tense usage, या main verb पहचानने में गलतियां हो सकती हैं। यहां कुछ common mistakes के examples दिए गए हैं:

Sing/Sang

• Incorrect: “He sing a song yesterday.”
• Correct: “He sang a song yesterday.”
• Hindi: “उसने कल एक गाना गाया।”
• Note: Finite verbs must agree with the tense of the action described. “Sing” should change to “sang” for past tense.

Play/Plays

• Incorrect: “She play cricket every Sunday.”
• Correct: “She plays cricket every Sunday.”
• Hindi: “वह हर रविवार cricket खेलती है।”
• Note: In present tense, third-person singular subjects require an “s” or “es” at the end of the verb.

Do/Does

• Incorrect: “He do his homework daily.”
• Correct: “He does his homework daily.”
• Hindi: “वह रोज़ अपना homework करता है।”
• Note: Finite verbs must match the subject in both number and person. For singular third-person subjects, “do” becomes “does.”

Go/Went

• Incorrect: “They goes to the park yesterday.”
• Correct: “They went to the park yesterday.”
• Hindi: “वे कल park गए।”
• Note: In the past tense, “go” changes to “went” regardless of the subject.

 

Finite Verbs Sentences

Here are some examples of finite verbs used in sentences, along with their Hindi translations:

• English: “She writes beautiful poems.”
  Hindi: “वह सुंदर कविताएं लिखती है।”
• English: “We studied for the exam all night.”
  Hindi: “हमने पूरी रात exam की तैयारी की।”
• English: “He eats lunch at noon.”
  Hindi: “वह दोपहर में lunch करता है।”
• English: “They were playing in the garden.”
  Hindi: “वे garden में खेल रहे थे।”
• English: “I am reading a book now.”
  Hindi: “मैं अभी एक किताब पढ़ रहा हूँ।”

 

When Do We Use Finite Verbs?

Finite verbs are used to show the time (tense) of an action or state and to form the main verb in a sentence. They agree with the subject in number and person. For example, in the sentences “She dances gracefully” or “We enjoyed the concert,” the verbs “dances” and “enjoyed” are finite and indicate tense.

Finite verbs का use action या state का समय (tense) दिखाने और sentence में main verb बनाने के लिए किया जाता है। ये subject के number और person के अनुसार agree करते हैं। जैसे, “वह खूबसूरती से dance करती है” या “हमने concert का आनंद लिया,” में “dances” और “enjoyed” finite verbs हैं और tense दिखाते हैं।

 

Rules for Using Finite Verbs

Finite verbs are the backbone of any sentence as they express tense and agree with the subject in number and person.Here are the comprehensive rules and examples for using finite verbs:

 

1. Using Finite Verbs to Show Tense:

Finite verbs indicate when the action happens (past, present, or future). They alter their form based on the tense.

Example:

• English: “She sings beautifully.”
• Hindi: “वह बहुत खूबसूरती से गाती है।”

 

2. Subject-Verb Agreement:

Finite verbs must agree with the subject in both number (singular/plural) and person (first, second, third).

Example:

• English: “He runs every morning.” (Singular subject)
• Hindi: “वह हर सुबह दौड़ता है।”
• English: “They run every morning.” (Plural subject)
• Hindi: “वे हर सुबह दौड़ते हैं।”

 

3. Using Finite Verbs in Negative Sentences:

In negative sentences, auxiliary verbs like “do not” or “did not” are used with the base form of the finite verb.

Example:

• English: “She does not like coffee.”
• Hindi: “उसे coffee पसंद नहीं है।”
• English: “They did not attend the meeting.”
• Hindi: “उन्होंने meeting में हिस्सा नहीं लिया।”

 

4. Forming Questions with Finite Verbs:

Questions are formed using auxiliary verbs like “do,” “does,” or “did,” along with the base form of the finite verb.

Example:

• English: “Does he play football?”
• Hindi: “क्या वह football खेलता है?”
• English: “Did they visit the park?”
• Hindi: “क्या वे park गए थे?”

 

5. Finite Verbs with Auxiliary Verbs:

Finite verbs combine with auxiliary verbs (e.g., “is,” “are,” “was,” “will”) to form different tenses and moods.

Example:

• English: “She is writing a letter.”
• Hindi: “वह एक letter लिख रही है।”
• English: “We will travel tomorrow.”
• Hindi: “हम कल यात्रा करेंगे।”

 

6. Identifying the Main Verb in a Sentence:

The finite verb serves as the main verb in the sentence, indicating the primary action or state.

Example:

• English: “He teaches mathematics.”
• Hindi: “वह Mathematics पढ़ाता है।”

 

7. Using Finite Verbs to Show Continuous Actions:

In continuous tenses, finite verbs combine with “is,” “are,” “was,” or “were,” followed by the “-ing” form of the verb.

Example:

• English: “They are playing in the garden.”
• Hindi: “वे Garden में खेल रहे हैं।”
• English: “She was reading a book.”
• Hindi: “वह एक किताब पढ़ रही थी।”

 

8. Finite Verbs with Modal Verbs:

Modal verbs like “can,” “could,” “should,” or “will” are paired with finite verbs to indicate ability, permission, or obligation.

Example:

• English: “He can solve the problem.”
• Hindi: “वह समस्या हल कर सकता है।”
• English: “You should complete your work on time.”
• Hindi: “तुम्हें अपना काम समय पर पूरा करना चाहिए।”

 

9. Special Cases of Finite Verbs:

Some finite verbs have irregular conjugations and change forms based on tense.

Example:

• English: “He goes to school every day.” (Present tense)
  Hindi: “वह हर दिन school जाता है।”
• English: “He went to school yesterday.” (Past tense)
  Hindi: “वह कल school गया।”

 

10. Identifying Finite Verbs in Complex Sentences:

In complex sentences, the finite verb is the main verb in the principal clause.

Example:

• English: “When she arrived, we started the meeting.”
• Hindi: “जब वह पहुंची, तो हमने meeting शुरू की।”

Typical Errors with Finite Verbs

Using finite verbs accurately is essential for clear communication and avoiding common mistakes. Finite verbs are key to expressing tense and ensuring subject-verb agreement.

Finite verbs का सही उपयोग communication को स्पष्ट बनाता है और सामान्य गलतियों से बचाता है।

 

Common Errors:

 

1. Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

One of the most common mistakes with finite verbs is failing to ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in terms of number and person.

Example:

• Incorrect: “He walk to school every day.”
• Correction: “He walks to school every day.”
• Hindi:
  गलत: “वह हर दिन school जाता है।”
  सही: “वह हर दिन school जाता है।”
   

2. Using Singular Verb with Plural Subject

When the subject is plural, using the singular form of the verb is a common error.

Example:

• Incorrect: “They goes to the market on weekends.”
• Correction: “They go to the market on weekends.”
• Hindi:
  गलत: “वे weekends पर market जाते हैं।”
  सही: “वे weekends पर market जाते हैं।”

 

3. Mixing Past and Present Forms

Sometimes, the past and present forms of finite verbs are mixed up, which can cause confusion.

Example:

• Incorrect: “She eat breakfast early in the morning.”
• Correction: “She eats breakfast early in the morning.”
• Hindi:
  गलत: “वह सुबह जल्दी नाश्ता करती है।”
  सही: “वह सुबह जल्दी नाश्ता करती है।”

 

4. Incorrect Use of “Is” with Plural Subjects

Using the singular form of the auxiliary verb “is” with a plural subject is another common mistake.

Example:

• Incorrect: “They is playing in the park.”
• Correction: “They are playing in the park.”
• Hindi:
  गलत: “वे park में खेल रहे है।”
  सही: “वे park में खेल रहे हैं।”

 

5. Incorrect Use of “Has” and “Have”

Confusing when to use “has” and “have” based on the subject is a frequent error. “Has” is used with third-person singular subjects, and “have” is used with others.

Example:

• Incorrect: “She have a meeting today.”
• Correction: “She has a meeting today.”
• Hindi:
  गलत: “उसके पास आज meeting है।”
  सही: “उसके पास आज meeting है।”

 

6. Incorrect Tense Form

When forming sentences, sometimes the tense used in finite verbs does not match the time frame of the action.

Example:

• Incorrect: “They will visited the museum yesterday.”
• Correction: “They visited the museum yesterday.”
• Hindi:
  गलत: “वे कल museum गए थे।”
  सही: “वे कल museum गए थे।”

 

 

Difference Between Finite Verbs and Non-Finite Verbs

The main difference between finite verbs and non-finite verbs lies in how they function within a sentence. Finite verbs change according to the subject, tense, and number, whereas non-finite verbs do not show such changes and often act as modifiers or parts of verb phrases.

Finite verbs और Non-finite verbs के बीच मुख्य अंतर उनके वाक्य में कार्य करने के तरीके में है। Finite verbs subject, tense, और number के अनुसार बदलती हैं, जबकि non-finite verbs ऐसे बदलाव नहीं करतीं और अक्सर modifier के रूप में या verb phrases के हिस्से के रूप में काम करतीं हैं।

 

Comparison:

Finite Verb Example:

• English: “She walks to school every day.”
• Hindi: “वह हर दिन school जाती है।”
• Tense Change (Past Tense): “She walked to school yesterday.”
• Hindi (Past Tense): “वह कल school गई थी।”

Non-Finite Verb Example:

• English: “She enjoys walking to school.”
• Hindi: “उसे school जाने में आनंद आता है।”
• Note: “Walking” is a non-finite verb because it does not change with tense or subject.

 

Key Differences:

1. Finite Verbs:
   • Change according to the subject, tense, and number agreement.
   • Act as the main verb in the sentence.
   • Example: “He writes a letter.” 
2. Non-Finite Verbs:
   • Do not change with the subject, tense, or number.
   • Are used in combination with auxiliary verbs or as part of verb phrases.
   • Example: “She enjoys reading books.

 

Practice Questions Related to Finite Verbs

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the finite verb (choose the correct option in brackets):

1. She __ (is/are) going to the market.
2. They __ (was/were) at the party last night.
3. He __ (have/has) completed the task.
4. I __ (am/are) writing an email right now.
5. We __ (was/were) watching a movie when you called.
6. She __ (can/could) speak three languages fluently.
7. They __ (will/would) finish the project by tomorrow.
8. I __ (do/did) not know the answer to the question.
9. He __ (is/was) reading a book when I arrived.
10. You __ (is/was) tired after the long journey.
11. We __ (were/are) planning a surprise for her.
12. They __ (have/has) been waiting for hours.
13. She __ (is/was) studying for the exam.
14. He __ (can/could) solve the problem in minutes.
15. I __ (will/would) go if I had time.

Answers:

1. is
2. were
3. has
4. am
5. were
6. can
7. will
8. did
9. was
10. are
11. are
12. have
13. is
14. can
15. would

Frequently Asked Questions About Finite Verbs

 

Q1: What is a finite verb?

Answer: A finite verb is a verb that is limited by the subject, number, and tense in a sentence. It shows agreement with the subject in terms of tense, person, and number. For example, in the sentence “She plays tennis,” “plays” is a finite verb because it agrees with the subject “She” and indicates present tense.

 

Q2: How do finite verbs differ from non-finite verbs?

Answer: Finite verbs change according to the subject, tense, and number, while non-finite verbs do not change with these factors. Non-finite verbs (such as infinitives, participles, and gerunds) are not limited by subject or tense. Example:

• Finite verb: “He runs fast.”
• Non-finite verb: “He enjoys running.”

 

Q3: Can a finite verb be used as both a main verb and an auxiliary verb?

Answer: Yes, finite verbs can act as both main verbs and auxiliary verbs. When acting as a main verb, they show the main action, while as auxiliary verbs, they help form different tenses, moods, or voices. Example:

• Main verb: “She eats an apple.”
• Auxiliary verb: “She has eaten an apple.”

 

Q4: How do you form negative sentences with finite verbs?

Answer: In negative sentences, finite verbs are combined with auxiliary verbs like “do” (in its negative form “don’t” or “didn’t”) along with the base form of the verb. Example:

• Present tense: “She does not like coffee.”
• Past tense: “They did not go to the party.”

 

Q5: How are finite verbs used in questions?

Answer: In questions, finite verbs are used with auxiliary verbs such as “do,” “does,” “did,” “will,” and “can” to form questions. Example:

• Present tense: “Do you play football?”
• Past tense: “Did she go to the market?”

Conclusion

Understanding and correctly using finite verbs is crucial for effective communication in English. Finite verbs are key in forming clear, grammatically correct sentences, as they are marked for tense, number, and person. By mastering how to use finite verbs in various tenses and moods, learners can confidently express actions, states, or requests. Whether in present, past, or future tense, finite verbs are essential in constructing meaningful sentences. With practice, learners can avoid common mistakes, ensuring proper subject-verb agreement and sentence structure. Finite verbs are a vital component of your Spoken English course, and mastering them will help pave the way for more fluent and accurate communication.