Question

Choose the non-finite verb from the sentence:
The sleeping dog is white rather than black in colour.

• A. is
• B. sleeping
• C. rather
• D. than

Answer 1

The correct option is B sleeping

The verbs that do not explain the tense of the sentence and do not agree with the subject are called non-finite verbs. Non-finite verbs are usually infinitives, gerunds and participles.

Option A - 'Is' explains to us that the sentence is in the present tense. It is a finite verb. Hence, option A is incorrect.

Option C - 'Rather' is an adverb and not a verb, hence it can definitely not be a non-finite verb. Hence, option C is incorrect.

Option D - 'Than' is used as a preposition and a conjunction, and not as a verb. Hence, option D is incorrect.

Option B - Though 'sleeping' is the participle form of the verb it doesn't explain the tense of the sentence and it doesn't even agree with the subject. Hence, option B is the correct answer.