FINITE VERB

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FINITE VERB. A form of the VERB with a distinction in tense: likes, like, liked are finite verbs in Justin likes strawberry ice cream, Anne and Robert like my story, and David liked his wife's cooking. On the other hand, like, liked are non-finite in Justin may like strawberry ice cream and David has always liked his wife's cooking, since no tense contrast is possible in these sentences. Compare FINITE, INFINITIVE, NON-FINITE VERB.