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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Did
Did you do that?
Is "Did" a finite verb in the above sentence?
Is "Did" a finite verb in the above sentence?
Top answer
Wikipedia's definition of a finite verb: 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. Did in your sentence seems to me to be ‘the root’ of an independent clause, and has you as its subject.
- Wikipedia's definition of a finite verb: 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.
- Did in your sentence seems to me to be ‘the root’ of an independent clause, and has you as its subject.
- It is also inflected for (past) tense.
- So yes, I guess it's a finite verb.
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6 Answers
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Wikipedia's definition of a finite verb:
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.
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.
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Right or wrong, this is my approach.
AnonymousDid in your sentence seems to me to be ‘the root’ of an independent clause, and has you as its subject. It is also inflected for (past) tense. So yes, I guess it's a finite verb.I beg to differ. If I am wrong, please correct me. Did you do that ? is a question where DID is acting as an auxilary. If the answ
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AnonymousDid you do that?The verb in that sentence is a verb phrase, "did do."
That verb phrase is a finite verb.
Unlike some other languages, where an inflected verb is one word with an ending conveying tense, aspect and mood, English employs verb phrases, in which one of the four parts of the main verb is used with the modal auxiliaries and/ o
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True it is an auxiliary, but I don't see why that should disqualify it as a finite verb.
I know it's the prevailing school of thought, but I've ever been too crazy about the analysis of did do as a verb. For one thing, I wouldn't expect the parts of a single word to be separable. Or is the idea that did do is a phrase with the function of a verb?
I know it's the prevailing school of thought, but I've ever been too crazy about the analysis of did do as a verb. For one thing, I wouldn't expect the parts of a single word to be separable. Or is the idea that did do is a phrase with the function of a verb?
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AnonymousDid you do that? Is "Did" a finite verb in the above sentence?Yes, 'did' is a finite verb in that sentence. 'did' shows an inflection for past tense, the infinitive being "to do". Any verb that shows an inflection for past tense (usually -d or -ed at the end) is a finite verb. This is true whether the verb is an auxiliary in the past
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CalifJimYes, 'did' is a finite verb in that sentence.Thank you very much for such an excellent reply. The clarity of the evidence cannot be more clearer.
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