<aside> 💡 When identifying a verb phrase, consider the finite verb that pairs with a subject within the same clause or sentence.

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A verb phrase is either a one-word verb (also called the lexical verb or main verb) or a group of words that includes not only the main verb but any Modals or Auxiliary verbs. It's important to distinguish between finite and non-finite verbs.

Finite and non-finite verbs are two primary categories of verbs in English, and they differ in their functions and forms.

Finite Verbs:

Finite verbs are verbs that have a specific tense, person, and number. They can stand alone as the main verb of a clause and provide the clause with tense and subject-verb agreement.

Features:

1. They change form based on tense (past, present, future).
2. They change form based on the subject (first person, second person, third person and singular or plural).

Examples:

1. She reads books. (present tense, third person singular)
2. They read books. (present tense, third person plural)
3. I read books. (past tense, first person singular)
4. We will read books. (future tense, first person plural)

Finite verbs couple with subjects to form clauses (i.e., Subordinating clauses, Relative clauses, and Nominal (noun) clauses). Finite verbs also state declarative ideas and are based on person (first, second, and third); gender (i.e., he/she); number (i.e., singular or plural); tense (i.e., past, present, and future), aspect (i.e., simple, perfect, progressive, and perfect progressive); and mood (i.e., indicative, imperative, subjunctive) (see Finite verb).

Non-finite Verbs:

Non-finite verbs, on the other hand, don't show tense, person, or number. They can't act as the main verb of a clause by themselves, but they have other functions in a sentence. There are three primary types of non-finite verbs: infinitives, gerunds, and participles.

1. Infinitives: The base form of a verb often introduced by "to."
   • Example: to read, to dance, to sing
   • She wants to read a novel.
2. Gerunds: These are verbs ending in "-ing" and function as nouns in a sentence.
   • Example: Reading is fun. (Here, "reading" is the subject of the sentence.)
   • I enjoy reading.
3. Participles: These can be present participles (ending in "-ing") or past participles (often ending in "-ed" for regular verbs, but can be irregular in form for some verbs). They function as adjectives or parts of verb tenses.
   • Present Participle Example: The dancing girl is talented.
   • Past Participle Example: The broken window needs repair.
   • Past Participle in a verb tense: She has read the book.