Identify the finite verb in the given sentence:
The girls sitting near the stage waited eagerly to receive their prizes, clapping for each winner.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → waited
“Waited” has the subject “the girls” and shows the past tense.
| Option | Form and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) sitting | a present participle; it describes the girls and shows no tense by itself | The man standing at the gate is our new watchman. |
| (2) to receive | an infinitive (to-verb); it stays the same whatever the subject or the tense | We hope to win the match. |
| (3) clapping | also a present participle; it tells what the girls were doing as they waited. It has no tense of its own | The children ran out of the hall, shouting with joy. |
| (4) waited (answer) | a finite verb: it has a subject and changes with the subject and the tense (wait, waits, waited) | Riya waits for the school bus at seven. |