finitive

Finitive is a linguistic term describing verb forms and clauses that are finite, meaning they carry tense and usually agree with the subject. A finitive form enables a clause to express a complete proposition and to function as the main verb of a sentence or of a subordinate clause. The term appears in descriptive grammars and typology to distinguish finite verb forms from non-finite ones.

In contrast, non-finite forms do not carry tense and often do not show subject agreement. They include the infinitive (to walk), present participles (walking), and past participles (walked, in languages where it can act non-finitely). Finite forms contrast with these non-finite forms in signaling time, aspect, mood, and agreement within a clause. For example, in English, verbs like walks, walked, and am walking can appear in finite clauses, whereas to walk and walking are typically non-finite forms within larger structures.

Across languages, the notion of finiteness is central to clause structure and the expression of tense and agreement. Some grammars explicitly label clauses as finitive when the verb is marked for tense and subject, while others reserve finitive for the verb form itself. In English and many other languages, finite verb forms are those that reflect the time of the action and agree with the subject, while non-finite forms often serve as non-predicate elements within clauses.

Etymology and usage: finitive derives from Latin finitus, meaning bounded or finished, with the English suffix -ive. The term is most common in linguistic descriptions and cross-linguistic studies, where it helps distinguish tense-marked, subject-argument verbs from non-finite forms.