Finite and non-finite verbs
Note to the teacher: even though these grammar lessons are arranged as full lessons, they are intended to deal with one particular aspect of grammar aimed at students who have little previous knowledge, or who find the subject difficult. The information in this lesson can, quite easily be compressed for use as a revision part-lesson, or even a starter activity for a Year 9 class.
Starter: 10 minutes
Quickly review what a verb does, using appropriate terminology (such as “doing word” if appropriate)
What constitutes a sentence?
Which of these can stand alone as a sentence?
To walk
Running
Yesterday
The answer, of course, is none of them.
Ask students to add to the words above in order to make them sentences. This should produce finite verbs.
Main 30 minutes
A sentence should contain a finite verb.
Definition
A finite verb is one which can change, depending upon its tense, the subject of the verb and whether it is singular or plural.
So, using the example above, the word ”running” is not finite, but can be used in the sentence “Running is my favourite sport”. If we turn the sentence into the past tense “Running was my favourite sport”, the word “running” does not change at all. However, there is a finite verb in the sentence, which is the verb “to be”. In the first sentence it is in the present tense “IS”; in the second sentence, it is in its past form “WAS”.
Definition
A non-finite verb is one which does not change. There are 3 main non-finite verb forms:
1 Verbs in their “Infinitive” state “To + Verb” (To walk, to run, etc.)
“I am going to walk to school”
“You are going to walk to school”
The verb “to walk” does not change, and is non-finite; the verb “to be” changes (“am”, “are”) depending upon the subject (“I”, “you”) and so is finite.
2 Present Participles, ending in “–ing” “Walking”, “running”, etc.
“I am walking to school”
“You are walking to school”
The same principles apply to the sentences above as to the Infinitive verbs.
3 Past Participle verbs, often ending in “-ed” and accompanied by the verb “have”
“I have walked to school”
“You have walked to school”.
Including a finite verb (which changes) with the non-finite verb (which does not change) creates a full verb. We call the part that changes the “auxiliary verb” and the part that does not change the ”base” verb.
TASK
Write out a paragraph of descriptive writing about a visit to a favourite place. Aim to vary the tenses and give the finished product to a partner, who will underline or highlight the finite verbs.
Plenary: 10 minutes
Review the main vocabulary, using the paragraphs of writing for reinforcement and example.
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