3. Function

A finite verb is always used in the function of a predicate.

I have been learning English for 10 years.

Have been learning is an actional, transitive, finite

verb used in Present tense, Continuous aspect, Perfect form, active voice, indicative mood. Person and Number can’t be definite. It used in predicate function.

3. NON-FINITE FORMS OF THE VERB

Verbals are the forms of the verb intermediary in many of their lexico-grammatical features between the verb and the non-processual parts of speech. Thus, these forms possess some verbal and some non-verbal features.The non-finite forms are four in number, they are: the infinitive, the gerund, participle I and participle II.

The infinitive is the non-finite form of the verb which serves as the verbal name of a process. Like other non-finite forms of the verb the infinitive has a double nature: it combines verbal features with those of the noun. The infinitive of transitive verbs has six forms

	Active	Passive
Indefinite	to do	to be done
Continuous	to be doing	_________
Perfect	to have done	to have been done
Perfect Continuous	to have been doing	_________

Nominal character	Verbal character
1. It can be used as a subject of a sentence e.g. To see is to believe.	1. It can take a direct object (transitive verbs) e.g. He wants to see me.
2. It can be used as an object e.g. He wants to see me.	2. It can be modified by an adverb e.g. I want to see him immediately.
3. It can be used as a predicative e.g. To see is to believe.	3. It has tense, aspect distinctions, voice distinctions (transitive verbs).

Subject (To read is useful)

Predicative (The task is to read this book)

Part of predicative (The book is easy to read)

Object (I want to read this book)

Attribute (The book to read is not easy)

Adverbial modifier (To read this book one should know English)

The gerund is a non-finite form of the verb with some noun features. The gerund serves as the verbal name of a process.

Double Nature of the Gerund

Nominal character	Verbal character
1. It can be used as a subject of a sentence e.g. Seeing is believing.	1. It can take a direct object (transitive verbs) e.g. He likes doing it.
2. It can be used as an object e.g. He likes doing it.	2. It can be modified by an adverb e.g. They burst out laughing loudly.
3. It can be used as a predicative e.g. Seeing is believing.	3. It has tense distinctions and voice distinctions (transitive verbs)
4. It can be modified by a noun in the genitive case or a possessive pronoun e.g. I’m not surprised at his coming so late.
It can be preceded by a preposition e.g. I’m not surprised at his coming so late.

The gerund is a categorially changeable form. It distinguishes two grammatical categories, namely, the aspective category of retrospective coordination (perfect in opposition), and the category of voice (passive in opposition)

	Active	Passive
Indefinite	doing	being done
Perfect	having done	having been done

Subject (Reading is useful)

Predicative (My task is reading this book)

Object (I like reading)

Attribute (There’s no chance of his reading this book)

Adverbial modifier (This hall is used for reading)

The participle is a non-finite form of the verb.

There are two forms of the participle – participle I and participle II. The present participle is the non-finite form of the verb serving as the qualifying-processual name. The past participle is the non-finite form of the verb serving as the qualifying-processual name.

Triple Nature of the Participle

Adjectival and adverbial character	Verbal character
1. It can be used as an attribute e.g. The reading hall was empty. e.g. He stared at his name written on the wall.	1. Participle I can take a direct object (transitive verbs) e.g. When reading the book, she couldn’t help laughing.
2. It can be used as an adverbial modifier e.g. When reading the book, she couldn’t help laughing. e.g. When asked this question, I always feel embarrassed.	2. Both Participles can be modified by an adverb e.g. Turning slowly she went to her room. e.g. Deeply surprised, she went to her room.
	3. Participle I has tense distinctions and voice distinctions (transitive verbs)

The present participle distinguishes the grammatical categories of retrospective coordination and voice. Forms of Participle I

	Active	Passive
Indefinite	doing	being done
Perfect	having done	having been done

The past participle is a single form, having no paradigm of its own.

Attribute (A barking dog woke him up)

Predicative (The idea itself was terrifying)

Part of a complex object (I heard them singing)

Adverbial modifier of time (She fell while skiing downhill)

Cause( Being ill, he couldn’t go to work)

Attribute (A newly-born baby was cute)

Predicative (I’m disappointed)

Part of a complex object (I consider the case closed)

Adverbial modifier (When analyzed, the problem proved to be difficult)