Here's why:
* Finite means "limited" or "having a specific form". Verbs in clauses have a specific tense (past, present, future) and person (first, second, third) which limits their meaning.
* Non-finite verbs are infinitives (to + verb), participles (-ing or -ed forms), or gerunds (verb + -ing). They don't show tense or person, so they can't be the main verb of a clause.
Example:
* "The dog barked loudly" - "barked" is the finite verb of the clause. It's in the past tense and third person singular.
Let me know if you'd like to explore more about clauses and verbs!