FINITE & NON-FINITE VERBS + CLAUSES & PHRASES

📚 Kerala PSC English Grammar Complete Package

This note is part of our complete English Grammar study series with video tutorial and 5 detailed guides.

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Quick Mastery Guide for Kerala PSC

PART 1: FINITE vs NON-FINITE VERBS

🎯 SIMPLE DEFINITIONS

FINITE VERB

Shows: Tense + Person + Number Rule: Tells you WHEN and WHO

NON-FINITE VERB

Shows: Nothing specific about time/person Rule: Cannot tell you when or who clearly

⚡ LIGHTNING TRICKS

🔥 TRICK 1: The Time Test (95% Success)

Question: Does this verb show WHEN?

  • “goes” → Shows present time → FINITE ✅
  • “to go” → No specific time → NON-FINITE ❌

🔥 TRICK 2: The Change Test (98% Success)

Question: Does verb change with different people?

  • I am / He is → Changes → FINITE ✅
  • to be → Same for all → NON-FINITE ❌

🔥 TRICK 3: The Tense Test (92% Success)

Question: Can I change this to past/future?

  • “eat” → ate, will eat → FINITE ✅
  • “to eat” → Cannot change → NON-FINITE ❌

📊 QUICK EXAMPLES

FINITE VERBS:

  • I go (present, 1st person)
  • He went (past, 3rd person)
  • They will come (future, 3rd plural)
  • She is reading (present continuous)

NON-FINITE VERBS:

1. Infinitive (to + verb):

  • to go, to eat, to study

2. Gerund (-ing as noun):

  • Swimming is fun
  • Reading helps

3. Participle (-ing/-ed as adjective):

  • Running water (describes water)
  • Broken glass (describes glass)

⚠️ COMMON TRAPS

Trap 1: “I am running” vs “Running is good”

  • “am running” = FINITE (shows tense + person)
  • “Running” = NON-FINITE (gerund, acts as noun)

Trap 2: “can swim” vs “to swim”

  • “can swim” = FINITE (modal shows ability)
  • “to swim” = NON-FINITE (infinitive)

PART 2: CLAUSES vs PHRASES

🎯 MASTER FORMULA

CLAUSE = SUBJECT + FINITE VERB

PHRASE = NO complete Subject-Verb combo

🔥 THE S+V TEST (100% Success)

Question: Has Subject + Finite Verb?

  • YES → CLAUSE
  • NO → PHRASE

Examples:

  1. “when he comes” → Subject: he, Verb: comes → CLAUSE
  2. “in the morning” → No subject, no verb → PHRASE
  3. “to play cricket” → No subject, infinite verb → PHRASE
  4. “because it rains” → Subject: it, Verb: rains → CLAUSE

🎯 TWO TYPES OF CLAUSES

1. MAIN CLAUSE (Independent)

Test: Can stand alone with complete meaning

  • “I am happy” ✅ (complete sense)
  • “Students study” ✅ (complete sense)

2. SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (Dependent)

Test: Cannot stand alone – needs main clause Starts with: when, if, because, that, which, who

  • “When I arrive” ❌ (incomplete – what happens?)
  • “Because it rains” ❌ (incomplete – what happens?)

🔥 INDEPENDENCE TEST

Question: Does it make complete sense alone?

  • YES → Main Clause
  • NO → Subordinate Clause

Subordinate Starters: When, where, because, since, if, unless, though, although, that, which, who, what, how

📝 QUICK PHRASE TYPES

1. Noun Phrase

  • The big car hit the wall

2. Verb Phrase

  • He has been studying hard

3. Prepositional Phrase

  • The book on the table is mine

4. Adjective Phrase

  • A boy very good at math won

5. Adverb Phrase

  • She ran very quickly

PART 3: SENTENCE STRUCTURES

⚡ STRUCTURE FORMULA

Count Clauses Method:

  • Simple: 1 Main + 0 Subordinate
  • Compound: 2+ Main + 0 Subordinate
  • Complex: 1 Main + 1+ Subordinate
  • Compound-Complex: 2+ Main + 1+ Subordinate

🔥 QUICK RECOGNITION

Simple Sentence

  • One main clause only
  • May have phrases
  • Example: “Standing quietly, he waited.” (phrase + main clause)

Compound Sentence

  • Two+ main clauses
  • Connected by FANBOYS (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
  • Example: “I came and he left.” (2 main clauses)

Complex Sentence

  • One main + one+ subordinate
  • Connected by subordinating conjunctions
  • Example: “When I arrived, he left.” (subordinate + main)

Compound-Complex

  • Multiple main + subordinate clauses
  • Both types of connectors
  • Example: “When I came, he left and she stayed.” (subordinate + 2 main)

🎯 QUICK PRACTICE TESTS

Test 1: Finite vs Non-Finite

  1. “goes” → FINITE (shows present, 3rd person)
  2. “to go” → NON-FINITE (infinitive)
  3. “swimming” → NON-FINITE (gerund)
  4. “is swimming” → FINITE (present continuous)

Test 2: Clause vs Phrase

  1. “in the park” → PHRASE (no subject-verb)
  2. “when birds sing” → CLAUSE (subject: birds, verb: sing)
  3. “running fast” → PHRASE (no subject)
  4. “I am running” → CLAUSE (subject: I, verb: am running)

Test 3: Clause Types

  1. “I am happy” → MAIN (complete meaning)
  2. “because it rains” → SUBORDINATE (incomplete)
  3. “Birds fly” → MAIN (complete meaning)
  4. “if you come” → SUBORDINATE (incomplete)

🏆 MEMORY TRICKS

For Finite Verbs:

“FAST” Rule:

  • Finite shows Form (tense)
  • Agrees with subject Always
  • Stands as Sentence main verb
  • Tense is Traceable

For Non-Finite Verbs:

“TGP” Rule:

  • To + V1 = To infinitive
  • Gerund = Going (V+ing as noun)
  • Participle = Painting (V+ing as adjective, V3 as adjective)

For Clauses:

“SV Rule”:

  • Subject + Verb (finite) = Clause
  • No S or V = Phrase

For Clause Types:

“IDS Rule”:

  • Independent meaning = Main clause
  • Dependent meaning = Subordinate clause
  • Starting words: when, where, because, if, that, which, who

🎯 PSC PREVIOUS YEAR PATTERNS

Common Question Types:

Type 1: Identification

“Identify the finite verb in: ‘Having completed his work, he went home.'”

  • Answer: “went” (shows past tense, agrees with ‘he’)
  • Trap: “Having completed” is participle phrase

Type 2: Clause Recognition

“‘The boy standing near the gate is my brother.’ The phrase in this sentence is:”

  • Answer: “standing near the gate” (no finite verb)
  • Analysis: “standing” is present participle

Type 3: Structure Analysis

“‘Owing to laziness, he couldn’t accomplish his dreams.’ This sentence is:”

  • Answer: Simple sentence
  • Analysis: “Owing to laziness” = phrase (no subject-verb)

⚡ SPEED SOLVING TECHNIQUES

3-Second Finite/Non-Finite Test:

  1. Look for tense markers (was, will, -ed, -s)
  2. Check subject agreement (I am, he is)
  3. Apply time test (when does it happen?)

2-Second Clause/Phrase Test:

  1. Spot subject + finite verb combo
  2. If both present → Clause
  3. If missing either → Phrase

5-Second Structure Test:

  1. Count finite verbs (= number of clauses)
  2. Check connectors (FANBOYS vs subordinating)
  3. Apply formula (Main + Subordinate = Type)

🔥 EXAM SUCCESS CHECKLIST

Before Answering:

  • ✅ Read question type carefully
  • ✅ Identify what’s being asked (finite/non-finite, clause/phrase, structure)
  • ✅ Apply appropriate test/trick
  • ✅ Double-check with backup method

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • ❌ Don’t confuse gerund with finite verb
  • ❌ Don’t miss “understood” subjects in imperative
  • ❌ Don’t count phrases as clauses
  • ❌ Don’t ignore helping verbs in finite verbs

Time Management:

  • Finite/Non-finite: 10 seconds max
  • Clause/Phrase: 15 seconds max
  • Sentence structure: 20 seconds max
  • Complex analysis: 30 seconds max

🎓 FINAL SUCCESS TIPS

Master These Patterns:

  1. Modal + infinitive = Finite meaning (can swim = finite)
  2. Participle phrases ≠ clauses (running fast = phrase)
  3. Gerunds act as nouns (swimming is fun)
  4. Only finite verbs make clauses with subjects

Practice Strategy:

  • Daily: 10 finite/non-finite questions
  • Weekly: 20 clause/phrase questions
  • Monthly: 50 mixed structure questions
  • Before exam: Speed tests with timer

Remember:

  • Finite verbs are the backbone of clauses
  • Clauses are the backbone of sentences
  • Understanding these unlocks all grammar concepts
  • Speed + accuracy = PSC success

🌟 Master Formula: Finite Verb + Subject = Clause → Sentence Structure → Grammar Mastery

Practice these concepts daily and you’ll achieve 95%+ accuracy in Kerala PSC English Grammar sections!

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