Finite and non-finite forms: the test

Multiple-choice exercise

ELT Concourse home
Choose the best answer for each question

  1. The infinitive with to can:
    1.   only follow an auxiliary verb and a main verb
    2.   follow a main verb or be the subject of a verb
    3.   only follow an auxiliary verb
    4.   only follow a main verb
  2. English verbs do not inflect for gender.
    1.   False
    2.   True
  3. "I walked to the park" contains
    1.   A finite verb post-modified with an adverb phrase
    2.   A finite verb post-modified with a prepositional phrase
    3.   A non-finite verb post-modified with a prepositional phrase
  4. "What do they want to have done about it?" is an example of
    1.   chaining non-finite verbs
    2.   non-finite modal auxiliary verbs
    3.   non-finite perfect tense indicators
    4.   the non-finite passive voice use of 'want'
  5. The imperative form in English has no subject normally so is ...
    1.   ... unusual but still a finite form
    2.   ... a non-finite form
    3.   ... a finite, non-finite
    4.   ... an example of person indicated by verb form alone
  6. In "I am here", the use of 'am' indicates
    1.   number and person
    2.   person only
    3.   gender and tense
    4.   number only
  7. The infinitive without to can:
    1.   follow an auxiliary verb and a main verb or be the subject of a verb
    2.   act as a noun or follow an auxiliary verb and a main verb
    3.   follow an auxiliary verb and a main verb
    4.   only follow an auxiliary verb
  8. "He came to see me" contains
    1.   A finite verb marked for person with a non-finite infinitive
    2.   A non-finite verb with a non-finite infinitive
    3.   A finite verb marked for tense with a non-finite infinitive
    4.   A finite verb marked for tense with a finite verb marked for person
  9. "Opening the box, he saw it was empty" contains
    1.   A finite verb followed by a finite verb
    2.   A non-finite gerund followed by a finite verb
    3.   A non-finite participle verb followed by a non-finite verb
    4.   A non-finite participle verb followed by a finite verb
  10. "I can smell something burning" contains
    1.   A finite verb and a non-finite gerund
    2.   A non-finite use of 'smell'
    3.   A finite verb and a non-finite participle
    4.   A finite use of 'burn' in the progressive