Content updated on 20 April 2026
Why do we say "I enjoy swimming" but "I want to swim"? What's the difference between "a broken window" and "a breaking news story"? The answers lie in non‑finite verbs—gerunds, infinitives, and participles. These verb forms do not change according to person or number, and they often function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. This lesson for Class 9–10 students unpacks each type with clear rules and abundant examples.
✅ Recommended for: Class 9-10 (Advanced) | CBSE & UP Board
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Verbs are the engine of a sentence, but not all verbs change form to show tense or agree with the subject. Non‑finite verbs—gerunds, infinitives, and participles—remain unchanged regardless of who or when. Instead, they act as other parts of speech, adding flexibility and richness to our writing.
Three Types: Gerund (verb+ing as noun), Infinitive (to + base verb), Participle (verb+ing or V3 as adjective).
Finite vs Non‑Finite Verbs
| Finite Verb | Non‑Finite Verb |
|---|---|
| Changes according to tense and subject. | Does not change. |
| Can be the main verb of a sentence. | Cannot stand alone as the main verb. |
| Example: She plays / She played. | Example: She likes playing / She wants to play. |
In the sentence "She enjoys reading books," the word enjoys is finite (changes to 'enjoyed' in past), but reading is non‑finite—it remains the same regardless of tense.
Gerunds (Verb + ing as Noun)
A gerund is the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun. It can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
- As subject: Swimming is good exercise.
- As object: She enjoys painting.
- After prepositions: He is good at drawing. / Thank you for helping.
- After certain verbs: avoid, enjoy, finish, mind, suggest, consider, practise, risk.
I avoid eating junk food. / She suggested going early.
Infinitives (to + Verb)
An infinitive is the base form of a verb, usually preceded by to. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
- As subject: To err is human. (More common: It is human to err.)
- As object: She wants to leave.
- After adjectives: I am happy to see you.
- To express purpose: He went to the library to study.
- After certain verbs: agree, decide, hope, learn, plan, promise, refuse, want, would like.
She agreed to help. / He plans to travel next year.
Bare Infinitive (without 'to')
After modal verbs (can, must, should) and certain verbs like make, let, see, hear, watch, the infinitive is used without 'to'.
- She can swim very fast.
- They made me wait for an hour.
- I heard her sing a beautiful song.
Participles (Present and Past)
Participles are verb forms that function as adjectives. There are two types: present participle (verb+ing) and past participle (usually verb+ed or V3).
Present Participle (Verb + ing)
Describes an ongoing action or a characteristic. It can also begin a participial phrase.
- The crying baby needs attention. (adjective)
- Walking down the street, I met an old friend. (participial phrase)
- The news was exciting. (describes how something makes you feel)
Past Participle (V3)
Describes a completed action or a state resulting from an action.
- The broken vase lay on the floor. (adjective)
- Tired after the long journey, she fell asleep immediately.
- I was excited about the trip. (describes a person's feeling)
• Present participle (-ing): describes the source of a feeling. (The movie was boring.)
• Past participle (-ed): describes how a person feels. (I felt bored.)
Gerund or Infinitive? (Common Patterns)
Some verbs are followed by gerunds, others by infinitives. A few can take either, sometimes with a change in meaning.
| Verb | + Gerund | + Infinitive |
|---|---|---|
| remember | I remember meeting her. (past memory) | I remembered to lock the door. (duty) |
| forget | I'll never forget visiting Paris. | Don't forget to call me. |
| stop | Stop talking. (cease an action) | I stopped to rest. (purpose) |
| try | Try using a different key. (experiment) | I tried to open the door. (attempt) |
| regret | I regret saying that. (past action) | I regret to inform you... (formal announcement) |
Verbs followed by either without meaning change: begin, start, continue, like, love, hate, prefer. She began to cry / She began crying.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| I enjoy to read. | I enjoy reading. | 'Enjoy' is followed by gerund. |
| She wants going home. | She wants to go home. | 'Want' takes infinitive. |
| I am interesting in this book. | I am interested in this book. | Person's feeling uses past participle. |
| The book is interested. | The book is interesting. | Source of feeling uses present participle. |
| He made me to cry. | He made me cry. | Bare infinitive after 'make'. |
Solved Examples
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Practice Questions
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Why Non‑Finite Verbs Matter
Non‑finite verbs allow us to create more complex and varied sentences. They appear frequently in editing tasks, gap‑filling, and sentence transformation in CBSE and UP Board exams. Mastering gerunds, infinitives, and participles will also elevate your writing style. For further practice, explore the Verbs and Tenses Hub and test yourself with Integrated Grammar exercises.
- GPN Knowledge Hub — Exam strategies and revision plans.
- Mathematics Hub — Clear step-by-step solutions.
- Worksheets Master Hub — Unlimited practice for all subjects.
- Hindi Grammar Hub — เคธเคฎ्เคชूเคฐ्เคฃ เคนिंเคฆी เคต्เคฏाเคเคฐเคฃ เคा เค เคง्เคฏเคฏเคจ।
๐ Non‑Finite Verbs Worksheet
Master gerunds, infinitives, and participles with 50+ exam‑style questions. Includes gap‑filling, error correction, and sentence rewriting.
Go to Non‑Finite Verbs Worksheet →Answer key included • Perfect for Class 9–10 board exams
