Practice Questions - Non Finite Verbs ( Gerunds, Infinitives, Participle)

Before starting I would like to advise you to check out this post where we explain non finite verbs in detail with examples by clicking here.

Q.I. Identify the gerunds in the following sentences identify the theFill up the blanks with infinitives:-

1. Mohan wants to ____ (swim) in the river.

Answer: Mohan wants to swim in the river.

2. Let him ___ (go) now.

Answer: Let him go now.

3. We saw him  ____ (arrive) at the party.

Answer: Let him go now.

4. Rita was too tired to ___ (walk).

Answer: Rita was too tired to walk.

5. He refused to ____ (help) me.

Answer: He refused to help me.

Q.II. Identify the gerunds in the following sentences:-

1. Swimming in the ocean is not easy.

Answer: Swimming

2. I delayed telling her the bad news.

Answer: Telling.

3. Let's go shopping.

Answer: Shopping

4. The pilot said that flying above the clouds is an experience.

Answer: Flying

5. He avoided doing his maths homework.

Answer: Doing

6. Writing is an exchange of ideas.

Answer: Writing

7. Running is fun.

Answer: Running

8. Swimming in the ocean is scary.

Answer: Swimming

9. She is afraid of flying.

Answer: Flying

10. Her love for gardening is well known.

Answer: Gardening

11. Baking is the profession of a baker.

Answer: Baking

12. I love reading.

Answer: Reading

13. Peter likes photographing animals.

Answer: Photographing

14. He was playing in the park.

Answer: Playing

15. The baby is crying.

Answer: Crying

Q.III. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of participle.

1. I found my brother ___ (drink) water.

Answer: I found my brother drinking water.

2. I reported the matter of my ___ (loose) book.

Answer: I reported the matter of my lost book.

3. She gave an ___ (amuse) performance.

Answer: She gave an amusing performance.

4. I was surprised to see so many (fall) trees.

Answer: I was surprised to see so many trees.

5. The student looked for a ___ (tore) page of his book.

Answer: The student looked for a torn page of his book.

6. The ___ (loose) team was consoled by the principal.

Answer: The lost team was consoled by the principal.

7. When she saw a snake the ___ (alarm) girl shouted.

Answer: When she saw a snake, the alarmed girl shouted.

8. I was glad to hear the ___ (chirp) birds song.

Answer: I was glad to hear the chirping bird's song.

9. After the accident the ___ (shake) boy was taken to the hospital.

Answer: After the accident the the shaken boy was taken to the hospital.

10. Do you enjoy ___ (watch) plays?

Answer: Do you enjoy watching plays?

Non - Finite Verbs (Gerunds, Infinitives, Participle) - Explanation with Examples.

Verb: A word that shows that some work has been done.

Example: Eat, drink, play, etc.

These are of two types:-

1. Finite Verbs: Verbs that represent a tense, change according to the subject, and have different froms according to the tense.

Example: Buy - bought

Teach - taught

Like - liked

2. Non - Finite Verbs: Verbs that represent no tense, they don't change according to the number or the person of the subject. 

Examples: -

She likes to eat ice cream.

They liked to eat ice cream.

He wants to go now.

They wanted to go.

Note: In a sentence there is a main verb and a non finite verb.

Without the main verb, the sentence remains meaningless . But without a non finite verb the sentence can be made.

For example: Tom saw him steal a pen.

Non finite verb: Steal.

Non finite verbs are of three types:-

1. Infinitives 

2. Gerunds

3. Participle

Infinitives:-

An infinitive is the base form of a verb. We use infinity words to join sentences.

Example: cut, put, go, come ,see, etc.

Infinitives are of two types:-

(i) Bare infinitives

(ii) To infinitives 

(i) Bare infinitives:-

It a verb that consists of infinitive without the word to.

For example: I saw her sleep.( Here, sleep is the bare infinitive and saw Is the finite verb.)

Conditions where bare infinitives are used:-

• With auxiliary verbs or modals.

Example: He may come today. ( Here, come is the bare infinitive and may is a model.)

• With transitive verbs to show sense of perception.

Example: I heard him go upstairs.

• Used in phrases having had/would in them.

Example: You had better complete your work.

(ii) To infinitives:-

Generally functions as a noun or a complement in the sentence.

Example: to operate this machine insert a coin in the slot.

• It is used after verbs such as hope, want, agree and able.

Example: My brother wanted to become a pilot.

• It is used after nouns or adjectives.

Example: the management asked the principal to decide the date.

2. Gerunds:-

Gerund is a word that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. Since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies the same position in a sentence that a noun usually does - subject, object or after a preposition.

Examples:-

The batting let down the team.(subject of a tense)

The other team is known for its fantastic bowling. (Object of a sentence)

Some were blamed for bad fielding.( Object of a preposition)

3. Participles:-

A participle is a form of a verb that can function both as a verb and as an adjective most commonly what is the poles and in -ing or -ed.

Example: The smiling baby caught my finger.

Participles are of two types:-

1. Present participle

2. Past participle

1. Present participle:-

• They work as an adjective.

• They are placed before a noun.

• They also end in -ing.

• They are also called adjectival verbs.

Examples:-

Everyone likes a smiling baby.

I want to read the interesting story.

2. Past participle:-

• Past participles are the third form of the verbs.

• They describe a noun.

• They also describe a finished or completed task.

Examples:-

The broken window panes were replaced.

The lost child was sent home.

Click here to check out these practice questions for thorough understanding.