Finite and Non-finite Verbs Exercises with Answers

Finite and non-finite verbs are differentiated from each other with reference to their nature and behaviour when used in a sentence. Finite verbs are those verbs that agree with the subject and express the mood, tense, number and person. On the other hand, non-finite verbs do not agree with the subject and can be used in the present participle, past participle or infinitive forms to perform different functions in a sentence. To check your understanding of what they are and how they are used, try out the different exercises given in this article.

Table of Contents

• Exercise 1 – Identify the finite and non-finite verbs
• Exercise 2 – Fill in the blanks with finite verbs
• Exercise 3 – Fill in the blanks with non-finite verbs
• Frequently Asked Questions on Finite and Non-finite Verbs

Exercise 1 – Identify the finite and non-finite verbs

Here is an exercise to get you started. 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. Waking 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.

11. The teacher noticed that the students were not ready for the test, so she let them revise.

12. As it was raining, the programme was cancelled.

13. There are no more copies left.

14. Mazeeka texted Divya the moment their favourite song started playing.

15. The children were playing cricket.

16. Nobody knew where Dennis was hiding.

17. Being sick, Adarsh decided to take a day off.

18. When we arrived at the airport, we found out that our flight had already left.

19. Heera, amazed at my writing, congratulated and encouraged me to keep writing more such pieces.

20. Gowri figured out a way to combine both our choices and set up a themed party.

Answers for Exercise 1

1. I had alfredo pasta for lunch today.

Finite verb – Had

2. They brought us some homemade cookies.

Finite verb – Brought

3. Getting down from his caravan, A. R. Rahman waved to his fans.

Finite verb – Waved

Non-finite verb – Getting down

4. My parents have decided to move to New Zealand by the end of this year.

Finite verb – Have decided

Non-finite verb – To move

5. The waves kept hitting the rocks at regular intervals.

Finite verb – Kept

Non-finite verb – Hitting

6. Noorin was happy to be there at her best friend’s wedding.

Finite verb – Was

Non-finite verb – To be

7. Peaches is the name of the baby mammoth in the movie ‘Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs’.

Finite verb – Is

8. Waking up from my nap, I realised I was late to pick up my son from school.

Finite verb – Realised, was

Non-finite verb – Waking up, to pick up

9. Martha was listening to her favourite songs as she continued to work.

Finite verb – Was listening, continued

Non-finite verb – To work

10. Chandra’s phone screen was broken.

Finite verb – Was

11. The teacher noticed that the students were not ready for the test, so she let them revise.

Finite verb – Noticed, were not, let

Non-finite verb – Revise

12. As it was raining, the programme was cancelled.

Finite verb – Was raining, was cancelled

13. There are no more copies left.

Finite verb – Are

14. Mazeeka texted Divya the moment their favourite song started playing.

Finite verb – Texted, started

Non-finite verb – Playing

15. The children were playing cricket.

Finite verb – Were playing

16. Nobody knew where Dennis was hiding.

Finite verb – Knew, Was hiding

17. Being sick, Adarsh decided to take a day off.

Finite verb – Decided

Non-finite verb – Being, to take

18. When we arrived at the airport, we found out that our flight had already left.

Finite verb – Arrived, found out, had left

19. Heera, amazed at my writing, congratulated and encouraged me to keep writing more such pieces.

Finite verb – Congratulated, encouraged

Non-finite verb – Amazed, to keep, writing

20. Gowri figured out a way to combine both our choices and set up a themed party.

Finite verb – Figured out, set up

Non-finite verb – To combine

Exercise 2 – Fill in the blanks with finite verbs

Go through the following sentences and fill in the blanks with the appropriate conjugated finite form of verbs given in brackets.

1. _______ she _______ (bring) all the necessary documents for the verification?

2. They _______ (reach) home late.

3. Maria _______ (love) the new phone that her parents _______ (buy) her.

4. The song you released recently _______ (to be) so heart-warming.

5. The cow _______ (give) milk.

6. I _______ (have) a yellow cable but I _______ (to be – negative) sure if that _______(to be) the one you need.

7. Danny _______ (have) a client panel interview today.

8. Jannet _______ (to be) the first one to arrive.

9. Your hair _______ (look) great today.

10. Gayathri and Kiran _______ (go) to Singapore for the holidays.

11. My daughter _______ (learn) how to count from1 to 100.

12. Unni _______ (score) the highest marks in both science and social studies.

13. Nivedita _______ (work) at LinkedIn, Hyderabad.

14. Roshan _______ (seem) to like being with you.

15. The coach _______ (ask) all the players to get to their places.

16. The psychologist _______ (advise) me to spend at least an hour meditating.

17. Aswathy and Geetha _______ (have) friends for more than twenty five years now.

18. The pilot _______ (greet) and _______ (wish) everyone a safe and happy flight.

19. Shaun _______ (move – negative) as he was terrified.

20. Sundar, Harshitha and Hamsa Varshini _______ (want) to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at least once in their lifetime.

Answers for Exercise 2

1. Has she brought all the necessary documents for the verification?

2. They reached home late.

3. Maria loved the new phone that her parents bought her.

4. The song you released recently is so heart-warming.

5. The cow gives milk.

6. I have a yellow cable but I am not sure if that is the one you need.

7. Danny has a client panel interview today.

8. Jannet was the first one to arrive.

9. Your hair looks great today.

10. Gayathri and Kiran are going to Singapore for the holidays.

11. My daughter learned how to count from 1 to 100.

12. Unni scored the highest marks in both science and social studies.

13. Nivedita works at LinkedIn, Hyderabad.

14. Roshan seems to like being with you.

15. The coach asked all the players to get to their places.

16. The psychologist asked me to spend at least an hour meditating.

17. Aswathy and Geetha have been friends for more than twenty five years now.

18. The pilot greeted and wished everyone a safe and happy flight.

19. Shaun did not move as he was terrified.

20. Sundar, Harshitha and Hamsa Varshini want to visit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at least once in their lifetime.

Exercise 3 – Fill in the blanks with non-finite verbs

Here are a few sentences to check your understanding of non-finite verbs. Read through each sentence carefully and fill in the blanks with the most suitable non-finite form of the verbs given in brackets.

1. We are planning _______ (watch) a movie together.

2. _______ (have) finished his homework, Sam went out _______ (play).

3. Binsha and Ashish love _______ (spend) their weekends at the beach.

4. _______ (satisfy) with our work, our teacher gave us chocolates _______ (appreciate) and encourage us.

5. The police asked us _______ (be) alert always.

6. All the people have been advised _______ (stay) indoors in order _______ (avoid) anyone _______ (get) sick.

7. Rani had _______ (leave) before the programme ended as she had a family emergency.

8. They are here _______ (teach) us about the precautions _______ (take).

9. _______ (find out) about the accident, Preethi rushed to the hospital.

10. Manisha is always the one _______ (plan) surprise parties.

11. Rachel and Chandler did not think it would be easy _______ (carry) the couch upstairs as Ross said.

12. _______ (walk) along the Nelson Manickam road, Aldrin recollected all the moments he had spent together with his friends.

13. My students were sad _______ (see) me leave.

14. Harry and Joe, _______ (be) bored, decided _______ (go) watch a movie.

15. You have _______ (learn) _______ (live) with it.

16. Wahib wanted _______ (meet) as many people as possible and make friends as he was new to the place.

17. It is your life and so you have the liberty _______ (decide) what you want to do with your future.

18. _______ (stroke) his hair, Pooja comforted her son and put him _______ (sleep).

19. My brother wanted me _______ (buy) him a pair of rider gloves and a riders jacket.

20. It is time _______ (cut) the cake and open the gifts.

Answers for Exercise 3

1. We are planning to watch a movie together.

2. Having finished his homework, Sam went out to play.

3. Binsha and Ashish love to spend their weekends at the beach.

4. Satisfied with our work, our teacher gave us chocolates to appreciate and encourage us.

5. The police asked us to be alert.

6. All the people have been advised to stay indoors in order to avoid anyone getting sick.

7. Rani had to leave before the programme ended as she had a family emergency.

8. They are here to teach us about the precautions to be taken.

9. Finding out about the accident, Preethi rushed to the hospital.

10. Manisha is always the one to plan surprise parties.

11. Rachel and Chandler did not think it would be easy to carry the couch upstairs as Ross said.

12. Walking along the Nelson Manickam road, Aldrin recollected all the moments he had spent together with his friends.

13. My students were sad to see me leave.

14. Harry and Joe, being bored, decided to go watch a movie.

15. You have to learn to live with it.

16. Wahib wanted to meet as many people as possible and make friends as he was new to the place.

17. It is your life and so you have the liberty to decide what you want to do with your future.

18. Stroking his hair, Pooja comforted her son and put him to sleep.

19. My brother wanted me to buy him a pair of rider gloves and a rider’s jacket.

20. It is time to cut the cake and open the gifts.