DISCOVERING GRAMMAR / 11 Identifying finite verbs Finite verbs must show tense . They can be past, present or future and are always connected to a noun or pronoun. Look at the following examples: Yesterday she was very unhappy. (past tense) He plays the piano very well. (present tense) Tomorrow I will go to London. (future tense) A finite verb can consist of more than one word. Each sentence must contain at least one finite verb. Transitive verbs are those which take an object: He trimmed the hedge. ‘Hedge’ is the object so the verb is transitive. Intransitive verbs do not take an object: She dances beautifully. There is no object so the verb is intransitive. Some verbs can be used both transitively and intransitively. He wrote a letter. (transitive: ‘letter’ is the object) She writes exquisitely. (intransitive: there is no object) Looking at transitive and intransitive verbs