Dr Nemika (Assist. Prof.) Department of English
Dayanand Arya Kanya Degree College, Moradabad
Non-finite Verbs
(Infinitives, Gerunds, Participles)
A finite verb is limited by the number and person of its subject while a non-finite verb is not limited by number and person of its subject.
Forms of Non-finite verbs:-
1. Infinitives
2. Gerunds
3. Participles
1. Infinitive
Infinitive is a kind of noun with certain features of a verb. ‘To’ is used with infinitives. However, it is omitted sometimes.
Forms of Infinitive:-
a) Simple infinitive
The simple infinitive refers to the same time as that of the preceding verb:
I was glad to see him.
He must be very humorous.
I’ll arrange a party with my friends.
My son’s Math’s teacher is said to be very intelligent.
b) Continuous infinitive
The continuous infinitive refers to the same time as that of the preceding verb and expresses an action in progress or happening over a period of time:
I’m glad to be playing here.
He must be joking.
He seems to be running out of money.
c) Perfect infinitive
The perfect infinitive refers to a time before that of the preceding verb:
He admitted to have abused him.
By next week, they’ll have finished the task.
Manager was assumed to have left the day before.
d) Perfect continuous infinitive
The perfect continuous infinitive refers to a time before that of the preceding verb and expresses an action in progress or happening over a period of time:
I’m glad to have been living in India for the last two decades.
He admitted to have been playing for the Indian cricket team for sometimes.
Soon, he’ll have been dancing for two hours.
e) Passive infinitives
Sometimes, Infinitives also appear in passive form:
Everyone desires to be appreciated.(passive simple infinitive)
The spy’s phone was believed to be being tapped.(passive continuous infinitive, rarely used)
This novel must have been written by Charles Dickens.(passive perfect infinitive)
The painting of Monalisa is believed to have been being painted for years.(passive perfect continuous infinitive, rarely used)
Rules of infinitives
Rule 1. Though the infinitive is always used with ‘to’ but in some cases infinitive is also used without ‘to’. An infinitive, without ‘to’, is called a ‘Direct infinitive‘. Following are the cases in which infinitive is used without ‘to’:-
(a). The infinitive without ‘to’ is used after auxiliary verbs such as ‘shall, will, can, may, did, should’: but ‘ought‘ is an exception. For example,
i). I should study now.
ii). I ought to go.
(b). The infinitive without ‘to’ is used in the active voice but not in the passive one, after the verbs hear, see, make, know, feel, bid, watch, behind. For example,
i). I bade him go there.
ii). I have known him laugh for nothing.
iii). He has been known to laugh for nothing.
(c ). The infinitive without ‘to’ is used after ‘let’ both in the active and passive voice. For example,
i). I let him go.
ii). They were let do whatever they liked.
(d). The infinitive without ‘to’ is used after ‘dare’ and ‘need’ in the negative and interrogative forms. For example,
i). You need not tell.
ii). He did not dare say even a single word.
(f). The infinitive without ‘to’ is used after the preposition ‘but’ and ‘than’. For example,
i). I did nothing but laugh.
ii). It’s always better spend your time in some creativity than sit idle.
(e). the infinitive without ‘to’ is used after the phrases ‘had better’, ‘ had rather’, ‘ as soon as’. For example,
i). I had better not go there.
ii). He would rather choose this than that.
iii). She would as soon walk as ride.
Rule (2). Use of Split infinitive ( separation of ‘to’ from its verb by inserting between the two, an adverb or adverbial phrase) is considered wrong by grammarians, ‘to’ being regarded by them as part of the verb. For example,
i). It is time to immediately put the work in hand. (Incorrect)
It is time to put the work in hand immediately.(Correct)
Rule (3). Always put the verb after ‘to’, never leave the verb to be implied. For example:
i). I will not do this work unless I have to. (Incorrect)
I will not do this work unless I am forced to do so. (correct)
Rule (4). The ‘to’ of one infinitive can be made to do duty for ‘ to’ of another infinitive in the sentence, provided the verbs in the two infinitives are synonymous. If two separate ideas are better expressed by two infinitives, ‘to’ of the latter infinitive should not be omitted. For example:
i). He helped me to prosper and progress. (Correct, for ‘progress’ and ‘prosper’ are synonymous).
ii). It lies in my power to succeed or fail. (Incorrect, for ‘succeed’ and ‘fail’ are two separate ideas; Hence ‘to’ of the first infinitive cannot be made to do duty for the ‘to’ of the second infinitive. Add ‘to’ before fail.)
Rule (5). An infinitive should be in the present tense unless it represents an action prior to the action of the Principal verb. For example:
i). I should have liked to have gone. (incorrect)
I should have liked to go. (correct)
Rule (6). When the infinitive is made to qualify a noun, it must be accompanied by the same preposition that it would have taken if the verb were finite. For example,
I have no pen to write. (Incorrect)
I have no pen to write with. (Correct)
- 2. GERUND (Verbal Noun)
A gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding “-ing.” You can use a gerund as the subject, the complement, or the object of a sentence.
i). I like watching concept movies.
ii). Riding fast is not safe for life.
Points to be noted:
1.Infinitives and gerunds can replace each other following the certain rules. For example,
i). I like to cook today. (At a particular time)
ii). I like cooking. (General statement)
2.Generally, learners confront problem in making difference between Gerund and Participle. So the basic difference between the two is Gerund is a kind of noun like infinitive and Participle is a verb/adjective (an action in progress). For example-
He was awarded for playing so brilliantly. (Gerund, showing ‘reason’)
He was seen playing cricket. (Participle)
Rules of Gerund
Rule 1. Gerund is used after certain verbs/ phrases that are followed by appropriate prepositions instead of ‘to’. For example-
(i). His father prohibited him to do this act. (incorrect)
His father prohibited him from doing this act. (Correct)
(ii). I insisted to pay money to his brother. (Incorrect)
I insisted on paying money to his brother. (Correct)
Rule 2. DIRECT GERUND is used after following phrases and certain verbs-
‘resist, enjoy, resent, avoid, mind, detest, can’t help, can’t bear, start, postpone,defer, worth, finish, pardon, risk, excuse, prefer, consider, practise, love, like, hate, dislike, forgive, it is no use, it is not good, propose, anticipate, miss, imagine, regret, means.’
Following Phrasal verbs are also followed by direct Gerunds-
‘put off, set about, give up,’ etc. For example-
I stopped to swim. (Incorrect)
I stopped swimming.( Correct)
Rule 3. There is always an exception to the rule in English! Normally, ‘to’ goes with a verb (as part of the infinitive form), not a noun. If, however, the ‘to’ is a preposition that is part of a combination, then it is OK to use a gerund after to.
Here are three situations in which you can use a gerund after the preposition to:
1) If the ‘to’ is part of a phrasal verb or verb + preposition combination:
I look forward to meeting your teacher today.
2) If the ‘to’ is part of an adjective + preposition combination:
He is addicted to smoking heavily.
3) If the ‘to’ is part of a noun + preposition combination:
His great dedication to his job inspires all.
Rule 4. The noun or pronoun governing a gerund should be put in the possessive case. For example-
(i). Please excuse me being late. (Incorrect)
Please excuse my being late. (Correct)
(ii). I remember Ram advising him. (Incorrect)
I remember Ram’s advising him. (Correct)
- 3. PARTICIPLE
A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective, to create verb tense, or to create the passive voice.
There are three types of participles:
Present participle (ending -ing)
Past participle (usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n) and
Perfect participle (having + past participle)
Participle is used both as a verb (progressive) and an adjective.
(i). We found a candle burning. (Verb, Present participle)
(ii). A burning candle was extinguished. (Adjective, Present participle)
(iii). A burnt paper was discovered. (Adjective, past participle)
(iv). Having lived there for such a long time, he didn’t want to move to another town. (Perfect Participle)
Rules of Participle
Rule 1. Participle is used as participle clause. It is a kind of clause containing participle in place of a finite verb. For example-
Having taken food I left for my college.
Past participles are also used to form the passive voice. A verb is said to be in the “passive voice” when its subject does not perform the action of the verb but has the action of the verb performed on it. For example:
The painting was taken to the auction.
(This is an example of a verb (“was taken”) in the passive voice. The action was done to the subject (“the painting”).)
Rule 2. Participles can be changed into following clauses:
(a). Adverb Clause of Time –
(i). When she saw me, she called me.
On seeing me she called me.
(b). Adverb Clause of Condition-
(i). If you don’t work hard, you will not pass the exam.
Without working hard you will not pass the exam.
(c ). Adverb Clause of Reason-
(i). Since she was brilliant, she was appreciated.
Being brilliant she was appreciated.
(d). Adverb Clause of Contrast –
(i). Though she is poor, she is happy.
Despite being poor she is happy.
(e). Adjective Clause-
(i). I saw a girl who was wandering in the street.
I saw a girl wandering in the street.
(f). Co-ordinate Clause-
(i).She returned and she was smiling.
She returned smiling.
Rule 3. Present participle should be used only to express an action which coincides with the action of the finite verb.
(i). She left for Delhi on Wednesday, reaching there on Thursday. (incorrect, ‘reaching’ is not a simultaneous action)
She left for Delhi on Wednesday and reached there on Thursday.( correct)
Rule 4. The participle should not be left without proper agreement, i.e., it must be attached with a noun or pronoun to which it refers. Participle without proper agreement is called misrelated, dangling or unattached participle.
For example-
Sitting on the gate, a serpent bit him. (Incorrect)
Sitting on the gate he was bitten by a serpent. (Correct)
Rule 5. However, participles such as ‘regarding’, ‘concerning’, ‘considering’, ‘speaking’,’taking’, ‘touching’, ‘owing to’ cannot be used with agreement with any noun or pronoun. For example –
Considering his abilities he should have performed better.
Rule 6. Generally, past participles are not formed of Intransitive verbs, e. g. we cannot say ‘a laughed man’, ‘a slept child’ but the following are the exceptions:-
A faded rose; a retired tradesman; the returned soldier; the fallen city; the risen sun; a departed guest; past history.
English Learners 