*English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
GRAMMAR: FINITENESS
English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
GRAMMAR: FINITENESS
Finiteness is one of the systems within the verb and it splits into finite and non finite verbs.
Anything is finite if it has a limit. Finite verbs are therefore verbs that are limited by other elements of the sentence. A verb is finite when it will be affected by any change that occurs in the subject or adverbial in a sentence:
1. Gani likes rice.
2. Gani and Ajoke like rice.
In sentence two, the change in the subject from singular (Gani) to plural (Gani and Ajoke) necessitated a change in the form of the verb from singular (likes) to plural (like)
3. We come everyday.
4. We came yesterday.
Also in sentence 4, the change in the form of adverbial (from everyday to yesterday) warranted a change in the verb “come”.
On the other hand, a verb is non finite when its form is not affected by any change in the sentence. Interestingly, the same verbs that function as finite also function as non finite. Non finite verbs manifest in the following ways:
1. Verbs in -ing form: whatever change that occurs in a sentence does not affect -ing inflected verbs:
5. He is teaching.
6. They are teaching.
In sentences 5 and 6, the change in form of the pronouns from the first person singular (he) to the third person plural (they) does not bring about any change in the verb “teaching”
2. Verbs in past participles: verbs in past participle forms do not respond to any change in a sentence.
7. Tunde has eaten
8. Tunde and Kunle have eaten
9. Tunde and Kunle had eaten before they left.
In sentences 7, 8 and 9, the past participle verb “eaten” does not change, hence it is non finite. It should be noted that the verb “has” changed to ‘have” in 8 and to ‘had” in 9. This is to show that auxiliary verbs could be finite in sentences provided they respond to changes.
3. To infinitive: verbs that are preceded by the preposition “to” are also non finite verbs as they will not respond to any change in a sentence:
10. GAB is to train primary school teachers.
11. GAB and Emeka are to train primary school teachers.
12. GAB was to train primary school teachers.
All of the changes in sentences 10-12 do not affect the verb “train” because it is preceded by the preposition “to”.
4. Verbs preceded by other verbs: when a main verb is preceded by another verb, it will maintain the base form (i.e., without “s”):
13. Why did James come?
The verb ” come” is used instead of “comes”. The plural base form “come” is used because the main verb has been preceded by an auxiliary.
Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (GAB)
Academic Advisor, Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan;
&
Doctoral Student of English, University of Ibadan.
