Question

Choose the non-finite verb from the sentence:
My mother ate roasted almonds with some other nuts.
a) Ate
b) Roasted
c) With
d) Some

Answer 1

Hint: Non-infinite verbs are those which do not explain the tense of the sentence and do not agree with the subject of the sentence. They are usually infinitives, gerunds, and participles.

Complete answer:
Let us look at the options given to us and find the correct non-infinitive verb. Option a ‘ate’ is the past participle of the verb eat and it indicates that the sentence is in the past tense. Thus, it is a finite verb. Thus, option ‘a’ is incorrect.
Option b ‘roasted’ is the past participle of roast but, in this sentence, it has not been used to explain the tense of the sentence, and it does not even agree with the subject. Therefore, it is a non-infinite verb. Hence, option ‘b’ is the correct answer.
Option c ‘with’ is a preposition and not a verb. Thus, option ‘c’ is incorrect too.
Option d ‘some’ is a determiner and is used to express a small unknown quantity. For example, “Pass me some sugar.” Thus, it is invalid too. Hence, option ‘d’ is incorrect.

Note:
‘Ate’ and ‘roasted’ are both past participles but the form has been used to indicate the tense of the verb ‘eat’ while ‘roasted’ does not indicate the tense. Thus, it is a non-infinite verb.