Theodore O. answered • 02/20/20
A master of visualizing Mathematical and Grammatical Relationships
A non-finite verb does not have a tense. It doesn't represent a process that occurs at a specific time. These words are also called verbals, and they take the same forms as finite verbs except for the third person singular and the simple past forms of irregular verbs. The infinitive form of a verb is always non-finite. In the sentence "I like to eat," the infinitive "to eat" is an object of the finite verb "like," so it is a noun. Finite verbs that determine the forms of non-finite verbs are called catenative verbs. If you say, "I enjoy eating," you must use the present participle form. As nouns, these participles are called gerunds, and gerunds are always used for the objects of prepositions. Consider the phrases "by eating less" and "for crying out loud." However, infinitives and participles don't always form nouns. In the sentences "He lives to eat" and "He lost weight exercising," the verbals are adverbs. They can also form adjectives ("a place to rest" and "an interesting book"), but past participle verbals always form adjectives. Consider "a broken window" and "a home-cooked meal." Main verbs also determine the forms of verbals that follow direct objects. Some grammars refer to them as complex catenative verbs. Compare "I watched him leave" with "He asked him to leave" with "I heard him snoring" and with "She had him evicted." Understanding the relationships of non-finite verbs in sentences is essential to fully mastering verb forms.
