This document outlines the classifications of verbs in English, including finite, non-finite, auxiliary, gerund, participle, and linking verbs, explaining their characteristics and providing examples for each category. Finite verbs show tense and agree with their subjects, while non-finite verbs do not change form based on tense or subject. Additionally, auxiliary verbs assist main verbs, gerunds function as nouns, participles serve as adjectives, and linking verbs connect subjects to complements.

1. Classifications of Verbs
Classifications of Verbs in English: Finite, Infinite,
Auxiliary, Gerund, Participle, Adjective, and Linking Verbs

2. Introduction
• Verbs are the action words or "doing words" in a sentence, but their roles
can be much more complex than just representing actions.

3. 1. Finite Verbs
•Key Features:
•Shows tense (past, present, future).
•Changes form based on the subject (number and person).
•Can stand alone as the main verb in a clause.
•Examples:
•She runs every morning. ("runs" is finite; shows present tense and
agrees with the subject "she")
•They ran to the store. ("ran" is finite; shows past tense and agrees with
the subject "they")

4. Cont…
• Examples:
• She writes beautifully. (Present tense; the verb "writes" agrees with the
subject "she")
• They played soccer yesterday. (Past tense; the verb "played" shows past
tense)
• He will travel to Spain next week. (Future tense; "will travel" indicates a
future action)

5. 2. Non-Finite Verbs (Infinite Verbs)
• Definition: Non-finite verbs (or infinitive verbs) are not marked by
tense, number, or person. They do not change form to show when an
action takes place or who is performing it.
• Key Features:
• Not influenced by subject or tense.
• Often used in combination with auxiliary verbs or after certain
verbs (like "to").

6. Cont…
• Types:
• Bare Infinitive: The verb without "to". Example: Let him go.
• Full Infinitive: The base form of the verb with "to". Example: She wants to eat.
• Examples:
• To swim is good exercise. (The verb "to swim" is in its non-finite form, used as a
subject of the sentence.)
• They asked him to leave. ("to leave" is non-finite, and does not change with the
subject "he" or tense)

7. Cont…
• Examples:
• I want to learn Spanish. (The verb "to learn" does not change form based
on the subject or tense)
• She decided to study medicine. (Non-finite verb "to study" used as an
object)
• He can run fast. (Bare infinitive "run" after the modal verb "can")

8. 3. Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)
• Definition: Auxiliary verbs help the main verb by forming tenses,
moods, or voices. They modify the main verb and give it a specific
meaning related to time, possibility, obligation, or necessity.
• Key Features:
• Cannot stand alone.
• Help in forming continuous tenses, perfect tenses, questions, and
negatives.

9. Cont…
• Common Auxiliary Verbs:
• Be, have, do: Used to form tenses.
• Can, could, may, might, must, shall, will, would: Modals that express possibility, ability,
permission, or obligation.
• Examples:
• He is running. (The auxiliary "is" helps form the present continuous tense)
• They have finished the work. (The auxiliary "have" helps form the present perfect tense)
• She can swim. (The modal auxiliary "can" expresses ability)

10. Cont…
• Examples:
• She is cooking dinner. (The auxiliary verb "is" helps form the present continuous
tense)
• They were playing basketball when it started to rain. (The auxiliary "were" forms
the past continuous)
• She has finished her assignment. (The auxiliary "has" forms the present perfect
tense)
• You should study for the exam. ("Should" expresses a recommendation)

11. 4. Gerunds
A gerund is a verb that ends in -ing and functions as a noun in a sentence.
Key Features:
• Always acts as a noun, though formed from a verb.
• Can serve as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence.
• Examples:
• Swimming is my favorite hobby. (Gerund as subject)
• I enjoy reading. (Gerund as object)
• Her passion is dancing. (Gerund as complement)

12. 5. Participles (Present and Past)
Participles are verb forms that function as adjectives, describing or modifying nouns.
There are two types: present participles and past participles.
• Present Participle: The -ing form of the verb, used as
an adjective or to form continuous tenses.
• Example: The crying baby kept everyone awake.
(Describes the baby)

13. Cont..
• Past Participle: Usually ends in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n for regular and
irregular verbs. It can function as an adjective or form perfect tenses.
• Example: The broken vase was on the floor. (Describes the vase)
• Examples in Continuous and Perfect Tenses:
• She is running fast. (Present participle helping form the present continuous
tense)
• They have eaten dinner. (Past participle forming the present perfect tense)

14. Cont…
• Examples:
• Running is great exercise. ("Running" functions as the subject of the
sentence)
• She enjoys painting in her free time. ("Painting" is the object of the verb
"enjoys")
• His hobby is collecting stamps. ("Collecting" functions as a complement
after the linking verb "is")

15. Cont…
• The glowing sun set behind the mountains. ("Glowing" describes the sun)
• They watched the falling snow. ("Falling" describes the snow)
• The shattered glass lay on the floor. ("Shattered" describes the glass)
• We were surprised by the stolen car. ("Stolen" describes the car)
• She is writing a book. (Present participle "writing" in present continuous tense)
• They had completed their work by noon. (Past participle "completed" in past
perfect tense)

16. Cont..
• The smiling child waved at me. ("Smiling" describes the child)
• The roaring lion frightened everyone. ("Roaring" describes the
lion)
• The tired runner sat down to rest. ("Tired" describes the runner)
• The burned toast smelled awful. ("Burned" describes the toast)

17. 7. Linking Verbs
• Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence with a subject complement
(an adjective, noun, or pronoun that describes or identifies the subject). They
do not express action but rather link the subject to further information.
Key Features:
• Often forms of the verb to be (is, are, was, were, etc.).
• Verbs like seem, become, appear, feel, taste, smell, sound also act as
linking verbs.

18. Cont…
• Examples:
• She is a doctor. ("is" links the subject "she" to the subject complement "doctor")
• The soup tastes delicious. ("tastes" links the subject "soup" to the complement "delicious")
• She seems happy. (The linking verb "seems" connects the subject "she" to the adjective
"happy")
• The cake tastes delicious. ("Tastes" connects the subject "cake" to the adjective "delicious")
• He became a doctor. (The linking verb "became" connects "he" to "a doctor")

19. Cont…
• They are excited about the trip. ("Are" connects "they" to the adjective
"excited")
• The flowers smell fresh. ("Smell" links "flowers" to the adjective "fresh")

20. Worksheet