Noninfinitive

Noninfinitive is a label in grammar used to describe any verb form that is not an infinitive. In languages that mark verbs for tense, aspect, mood, person, or number, the noninfinitive forms comprise both finite verbs and other noninfinitive nonfinite forms such as participles and gerunds. The term is primarily used in typological or historical descriptions rather than in everyday grammar explanations.

Finite versus nonfinite is a common organizing principle in descriptions of noninfinitives. Finite verbs are marked for tense and agreement with the subject (for example, I walk, she walks, I walked). Noninfinitive nonfinite forms include participles and gerunds that do not bear full finite agreement. Present participles and past participles (such as walking and eaten) function in clauses or phrases without serving as the main finite verb. Gerunds (for example, walking as a noun) behave like nouns or noun phrases rather than as the main predicate of a clause.

Across languages, noninfinitive forms play different roles. Some languages have a rich system of finite and various nonfinite forms with distinct morphologies, while others rely more on periphrastic constructions or rely on infinitives with auxiliary verbs. The term noninfinitive helps linguists contrast noninfinitival forms with infinitives, clarifying how verbs convey tense, aspect, mood, or argument structure in different linguistic systems.

See also: finite verb, nonfinite clause, infinitive, participle, gerund.