A
finite verb is a form of a
verb that has a
subject (expressed or implied) and can function as the root of an
independent clause; an independent clause can, in turn, stand alone as a complete
sentence. In many languages, finite verbs are the locus of grammatical information of
gender,
person,
number,
tense,
aspect,
mood, and/or
voice. In elementary level, finite verb is the verb in a sentence which determines the tense. Finite verbs are distinguished from
non-finite verbs, such as
infinitives,
participles, etc., which generally mark these grammatical categories to a lesser degree or not at all, and which appear below the finite verb in the hierarchy of syntactic structure.