Finites Vs non-Finites

Question 1

which verb subgroup is always finite?

Answer 1

Modal

Question 2

What are the non-finite forms?

Answer 2

• Bare/plain infinitive
• To-infinitive
• Present participle
• Past participle

Question 3

What are finite forms?

Answer 3

tensed forms

Question 4

What are non-finite forms?

Answer 4

plain infinitive
She would take the train
to- infinitive
she expected to do it a lot longer yet
present participle (-ing form)
Tomorrow she was travelling
past participle (-ed/-en form)
She had gone out early

Question 5

How can you test if the verb is finite?

Answer 5

Change the tense (present/past)

Change the person/number (e.g. the verb form for I vs he)=If the verb form changes it’s finite

Question 6

Where are the non-finite forms placed?

Answer 6

After the finite verbs

Question 7

Modal verbs are always….

Answer 7

FINITE-limited to tense, person and number

Question 8

What is the finite verb limited to?

Answer 8

Tense, person and number

Question 9

What is the finite verb showing us in this example She has been painting the kitchen

Answer 9

Present, 3rd person, subjective

Question 10

What is the finite verb showing us in this example? I have been painting the kitchen

Answer 10

Present, singular 1st person

Question 11

What is the finite verb showing us in this example? I had been painting the kitchen

Answer 11

Past tense, singular 1st person

Question 12

What does the finite verb show?

Answer 12

Tense either in present or past tense

Question 13

Where would the tensed verb(finite) be in the predicator?

Answer 13

The 1st verb in the predicator

Question 14

What is the tensed verb known as?

Answer 14

The finite verb

Question 15

What does the predicator consist of?

Answer 15

Could be 1 verb=simple predicator
Several verbs=complex predicator
*be careful as not verb like forms are part of of the predicator eg. Walking could be a noun/adjective/verb

Question 16

What is the verb group also known as?

Answer 16

The predicator

Question 17

Traditionally how are sentences divided up?

Answer 17

sentences are described as consisting of a noun phrase and a verb phrase (S → NP + VP), e.g. The boy(NP) had been buying groceries(VP). Here the verb phrase is the whole verb group and any premodifiers/etc
Matches with subject+predicate
But some people would’ve only classed the verb group/ the predicator (has been buying) as the verb phrase.

Question 18

Besides lexical and aux what other way can you group verbs?

Answer 18

Finite versus non-finite forms

Question 19

Describe what is meant by subject-verb agreement/

Answer 19

finite verb forms also change depending on the person and number of the subject They’re ‘conjugated’ for person and number. Changing the form of the verb to make it agree with the subject.
e.g. present simple=I cook, he/she/it cooks, we/they/ you cook
past simple=I cooked, he/she/it cooked, we/they/ you cooked

Question 20

Which verb group is affected by the SV agreement/conjugating for person and number?

Answer 20

Finite verb group

Question 21

Describe the present tense in English

Answer 21

present (simple) tense is used for general truth or repeated intermittent action (e.g. routine, timetable) They play the French horn
 On Wednesday I do plant therapy
 The bus leaves at 5pm every day
 He barks at birds
 Water boils at 100˚C
But it is also used for the historical present! - for past actions narrated in a story (helps to engage the reader; feels like it is happening now)
I run to the gate. I take the hammer and raise it high. I smash the lock and run inside

Question 22

Describe the past tense in English

Answer 22

Past simple= ‘preterite’
 Completed (‘contained’) action in a time before now
	Rups bought a red car
	I went to Prague in 2018
	Jitten won the book prize in 2008

Question 23

The first verb in the predicator is…

Answer 23

either in the present or past tense. It is called the tensed or finite verb.

Question 24

spot the finite verb in the predicator:

I had been painting the kitchen

Answer 24

had=finite

Question 25

spot the finite verb in the predicator: She has been painting the kitchen

Answer 25

has=finite

Question 26

what non-finite form ends with ed/en

Answer 26

past participle

Question 27

Verbs can modifiy

Answer 27

tense,
aspect
modality
voice

Question 28

tense relates to the location….

Answer 28

of the event in time

Question 29

Aspect relates

Answer 29

to the temporal unfolding / internal structure of the event

Question 30

modality/mood relates

Answer 30

to the attitude of the speaker towards the event

Question 31

In a finite verb phrase

Answer 31

the first verb will be finite, in present or past form
any verb that follows a modal will be in (to) infinitive form
the lexical verb will be the last

Question 32

what’s the structure of the past tense

Answer 32

Regular verbs+ed (no 3rd person form)

Irregular forms: also usually no 3rd person form (BE is an exception with several forms)

Question 33

how many finites in a clause

Answer 33

1

Question 34

if there is one verb in the sentence? what is it?

Answer 34

lexical and finite

Question 35

where would you find the finite in a verb group?

Answer 35

1st one.