Finite, non-finite

Question

One of the ways to determin whether a clause is finite or not is to check if a clause verb bears a tense. For example: Having lost my keys, I wasn't able to enter my room. Having lost bears not tense so it is non-finite.

Therefore, I'd like to ask why the following sentence is finite?

She has written a novel.

It is clearly present perfect, so why it is non-finite?

Thanks

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

MorrruOne of the ways to determin whether a clause is finite or not is to check if a clause verb bears a tense. For example: Having lost my keys, I wasn't able to enter my room. Having lost bears not tense so it is non-finite.

'Having lost' is a perfect rather than a present participle. You are right about it being non-finite.

Fivejedjon · Answer

MorrruIt is clearly present perfect, so why it is non-finite?

It isn't.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

She has written a novel. (Finite)
Having written (non-finite) the last sentence and the final word in her novel, she went (finite) out to celebrate.

Every well-formed sentence must have at least one finite verb.

CalifJim · Answer

Morrruwhy the following sentence is finite?She has written a novel.

No. It's finite. Only the infinitives and participial forms are non-finite. For example, to take, taking, taken. Of these, the past participle (taken) is not so often seen as the main verb in non-finite clauses, but the present participle (taking) is common.

The first verb in the clause tells you if you're dealing with a finite or non-finite form.

has written: The first verb is 'has'. That's not the infinitive (to have) nor a participle (having, had), so it can't be non-finite.

In fact, none of the verb forms that have the "s" of the third-person present tense (has, does, takes, sees, wants, thinks, etc.) can ever be non-finite forms. am, is, are, was, and were are the same. They are never non-finite forms.

CJ

Finite, non-finite

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