Question

Identify the sentence containing a non-finite verb:
1. Smoking is injurious to health and causes cancer.
2. The mangled pair of sunglasses was kept on the table.

Answer 1

Hint:Non-finite verbs are the forms which do not act as verbs in a particular sentence; rather they act as nouns, adjectives, &/or adverbs.

Complete answer:

In the given pair of sentences, we’re supposed to identify the sentence which contains a non-finite verb. Prior to the solution, it shall be reasonable to explain what a non-finite verb is. Non-finite verb forms are those verbs which act (in that particular sentence) as a noun, adjective, or adverb. It does not show tense, i.e. one cannot tell if a sentence is in the past, present, or future tense by looking at a non-finite verb and for the same reason, such verb forms are never the main verbs in the sentence.

The given options are explained as-

A. An obvious conclusion of the stated explanation allows us to tell that sentence 1 is the correct answer. ‘Smoking’ is a verb in the normal sense, but in the given context, it is acting as a noun here not as a verb. Also, it isn’t expressing any time frame here; it merely states, smoking is injurious to health, which again helps us to qualify it as a non-finite form.

B. The option is incorrect. In the subject ‘the mangled pair of sunglasses’ the term ‘mangled pair’ is an adjective as it is qualifying the noun ‘sunglasses’ (expressing the quality of the noun) and not a non-finite form. The verb here is ‘was kept’ (was- auxiliary verb and kept- main verb). Also, here we can figure out that the tense of the sentence from the verb form used; it is in the past tense.

C. The option is partially correct as by looking at the previous two explanations we can conclude that out of the two options, only 1 is correct while 2 is incorrect.
D. Again, as previously stated, this option is partially wrong. We’ve already seen that only option 2 is incorrect while option 1 is correct. Thus, both aren’t simultaneously wrong.



 Hence, the correct answers are Option ‘A’.

Note:Thus, the correct answer is option (a), because it clearly satisfies the conditions of being a non-finite verb- acting as a noun, not expressing the tense of the act, and ‘smoking’ isn’t a verb here. The non-finites can be classified into 3 subtypes- The infinitives, gerunds and participles.
Gerunds: usually end with verb+(-)ing form
Example- I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting. (Mark Twain)

The infinitives: follow a ‘to+verb’ form.
Example- To be or not to be is the main question.

Participles- follow a ‘verb+present continuous/verb+past form’ form and function as adjectives. They’re divided into two categories- present and past participles.
Example- A stirring dwarf we do give before a sleeping giant. (William Shakespeare)