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Would you differentiate between plain finitive verbs and to infinitive verbs in English grammar ?

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Question added by Vinay Kumar Mancherla , Associate professor , Gnyana Saraswati College of Engineering & Technology
Date Posted: 2015/03/12

Finite verb forms are marked by inflection and indicate person, number and tense. A finite verb can be the single main verb in a sentence.

For example, the finite forms of the verb go are:

    • go (present tense in all persons except the third person singular)
go to school in the afternoon.
    • goes (present tense in the third person singular)
Mia goes to school by bus every day.
    • went (past tense)
Yesterday, we went to school at9 am. Non-finite verb forms

Non-finite verb forms do not indicate person, number or tense.

The non-finite forms of the verb go are:

    • go (infinitive)
I can't go with you.Unfortunately, she had to go.Do you really go out with her?I didn't go to work today.I want to go home. 
    • going (gerund)
I like going to the cinema.Carol suggested going for a walk.Going faster would have been really dangerous.
    • gone (past participle)
Jack has gone away on holiday.By the time Sue returned, the others had gone back to their cars.I wish I had gone to university.
    • going (present participle)
I'm going to a concert tonight.I heard my dad going up the stairs.Going across the bridge last night, I saw someone swimming in the river.

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