# Infinitives, Gerunds, Participles | SwaVid

Infinitives, gerunds, participles: A finite verb shows who does it and when, and it can stand alone as the main verb. Rules, examples and a quick check.

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Source: https://www.swavid.com/english-grammar/the-verb/infinitives-gerunds-participles

# Infinitives, gerunds, participles: rules and examples

## The rule, step by step

## Check yourself

## Common mistakes

## Frequently asked questions

## Keep practising

### Quick reference

### What is the rule for infinitives, gerunds, participles?

### Can you give examples of infinitives, gerunds, participles?

### What mistakes do students make in infinitives, gerunds, participles?

### Free English grammar test

### More in The Verb

Short answer. A finite verb shows who does it and when, and it can stand alone as the main verb. Non-finite forms (infinitive, gerund, participle) cannot be the only verb in a sentence.

1 . Pick the finite verb. Hoping for rain, the farmers watched the sky.

2 . Pick the finite verb. Humming a song, Kavi painted the wall.

Finite verb: shows who and when, stands alone. Infinitive, gerund, participle: cannot.

A finite verb shows who does it and when, and it can stand alone as the main verb. Non-finite forms (infinitive, gerund, participle) cannot be the only verb in a sentence.

Ravi wanted to win. (wanted is finite; to win is non-finite) Sara enjoys painting. Sara wants to paint.

Wrong: I want that you come with me. Right: I want you to come with me. (Want and advise) Wrong: Eating my lunch, a crow stole my roti. Right: Eating my lunch, I saw a crow steal my roti. (A missing doer)

Your child's level and 3 topics to fix first.

All the topics in this chapter, one rule at a time.

- The infinitive . An infinitive is to plus the base verb: to eat, to run, to help. It never changes with the subject or the time.
- The gerund . A gerund is an -ing word used as a noun. It can be the subject, or come after a verb or a preposition.
- The participle . A participle is an -ing or -ed word that describes a noun, like an adjective. It does not show the time on its own.
- Finite and non-finite . A finite verb has a subject and shows tense, like plays or played. A non-finite verb shows no tense of its own. There are three kinds: the infinitive, the gerund and the participle.
- The infinitive . An infinitive is to plus the base verb, like to win or to save. It does not change with the subject or the tense.
- Ravi wanted to win. wanted is finite; to win is non-finite
- Sara enjoys painting.
- Sara wants to paint.
- I want that you come with me. → I want you to come with me. Want and advise
- Eating my lunch, a crow stole my roti. → Eating my lunch, I saw a crow steal my roti. A missing doer

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