A finite verb is any form of a verb that has a subject limiting it in person and number, and thus can form independent clauses which can stand on their own as complete sentences. In languages with systems of inflection, finite verbs are typically inflected for tense according to the rules and categories of the languages in which it occurs.

Non-finite verb forms have no person or number, but some types can show tense.

In the Indo-European languages (such as English), only verbs in certain moods are finite. These include:

Verb forms that are not finite include:

It might seem that every grammatically complete sentence or clause must contain a finite verb. However, sentences lacking a finite verb were quite common in the old Indo-European languages. The most important type of these are nominal sentences.

Another type are sentence fragments described as phrases or minor sentences. In Latin and some Romance languages, there are a few words that can be used to form sentences without verbs, such as Latin ecce, Portuguese eis, French voici and voilà, and Italian ecco, all of these translatable as here ... is or here ... are. Some interjections can play the same role. Even in English, a sentence like Thanks for your help! has an interjection where it could have a subject and a finite verb form (compare I appreciate your help!).