FINITE CLAUSE AND TO-FINITE

FINITE CLAUSE

A finite clause is a main clause or a subordinate clause that

must have a verb to show tense. The verb can be in the
present tense or past tense.
The tense can be changed from the
present tense to the past tense or past tense to the present
tense. Because the verb in the present tense or past tense is
called a finite verb, the clause that contains a finite verb is
called a finite clause
EXAMPLE

 The fishermen are mending their nets.

(Present tense is used in the finite/main clause.)

 We dined at a cheap restaurant last night.

(Past tense used in the finite/main clause.)

 We were not allowed in because we arrived late.

(Past tense is used in the main clause [finite clause] we were not allowed in and in the subordinate clause [finite
clause] because we arrived late.)
NON-FINITE CLAUSE

A non-finite clause is a subordinate

clause that is based on a to-
infinitive or a participle. It contains
a verb that does not show tense,
which means it does not show the
time at which something happened.
TO-INFINITIVE CLAUSE EXAMPLE

He gave up his job to travel the world.

We wanted to ask her to come along.

The person to make the report to at the

police station was the Sergeant.
QUESTION

 He forgot to call her The boy is playing football at a field near the small river. aking up from my nap, I realised I
was late to pick up my son from schoo
LOCATE THE VERBS IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES AND
IDENTIFY IF THEY ARE FINITE OR NON-FINITE VERBS.
 1. I had alfredo pasta for lunch today.
 2. They brought us some homemade cookies.
 3. Getting down from his caravan, A. R. Rahman waved to his fans.
 4. My parents have decided to move to New Zealand by the end of this year.
 5. The waves kept hitting the rocks at regular intervals.
 6. Noorin was happy to be there at her best friend’s wedding.
 7. Peaches is the name of the baby mammoth in the movie ‘Ice Age: Dawn of the
Dinosaurs’.
 8. aking up from my nap, I realised I was late to pick up my son from school.
 9. Martha was listening to her favourite songs as she continued to work.
 10. Chandra’s phone screen was broken.