Verb and its classification

Verbs

 

In simple terms the verb is known as a ‘doing word’— you might have been told this in primary school. In many ways this description is an oversimplification and unduly restrictive since it tends to overlook the fact that, although many verbs do express action, many simply indicate a condition or state. The description also excludes auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, etc.

 

Never the less, the verb is usually the word in a sentence that is most concerned with the action and it is usually essential to the structure of a sentence. The verb is usually the most important part of the predicate.

 

Verbs have a number of functions. In particular, they indicate tense, voice, mood, number and person.

 

Verbs are classified as regular verbs and irregular verbs.

 

 

Regular verbs

 

Most verbs are regular verbs, occasionally known as weak verbs. They are described as regular because they obey certain rules, especially regarding the forming of tenses. Regular verbs obey the following such rules: 1 Regular verbs add the ending -s to the base or infinitive form of the verb, as in walk, play and look, to form the third person singular of the present tense, as in: he walks, it plays, she looks.

 

While the rest of the present tense is formed by using just the base or infinitive form, as in: I walk, you play, they look.

 

The present participle of regular verbs is formed by adding the ending -ing to the base form, as in walking, playing, looking.

If the base form ends in -e the e is usually omitted before the -ing ending is added, as in: hating, loving, loathing.

 

2 Regular verbs add the ending -ed to the base (or the ending -d if the base form already ends in -e) to form the past tense.

 

This applies to all persons, as in:

I walked they played you killed he worked she loved they hated.

 

In the following sentences the underlined words all form examples of regular verbs: You rarely smile.

 

She walked slowly.

 

You all seemed so sad.

We laugh a lot.

They look happy.

He plays tennis.

She reads crime fiction.

She is looking pale.

Loving her as he did, he was distraught at her death.

It rains every day.

She loathed her boss.

He looked at the view from the window.

 

 

Irregular verbs

 

Irregular verbs (see 1, 2) do not obey the rules which apply to regular verbs. In particular, they deviate from the pattern of adding -ed or -d to the infinitive form to form the past tense and past participle forms.

 

Categories of irregular verbs

Irregular verbs fall into several categories when it comes to forming the past tense and past participle forms.

 

1 One category concerns those verbs which have the same form as the infinitive form in the past tense and past participle forms, as in: to cut:

 

I cut my hand yesterday.

 

I have cut myself.

 

to burst:

 

The river burst its banks.

The child has burst the balloon.

 

The following verbs are included in this category:

 

infinitive	past tense	past participle
bet	bet	bet
burst	burst	burst
cast	cast	cast
cost	cost	cost
cut	cut	cut
hit	hit	hit
hurt	hurt	hurt
put	put	put
set	set	set
shut	shut	shut
split	split	split
spread	spread	spread

 

2 Another category includes those irregular verbs which have two past tenses and two past participles, the past tenses having the same forms as the past participles, such as spoil, spoiled/spoilt, have spoiled/spoilt. The following verbs are included in this category:

 

infinitive

past tense

past participle

 

burn

burned/burnt

burned/burnt

dream	dreamed/dreamt	dreamed/dreamt
dwell	dwelled/dwelt	dwelled/dwelt
hang	hanged/hung	hanged/hung
kneel	kneeled/knelt	kneeled/knelt
lean	leaned/leant	leaned/leant
leap	leaped/leapt	leaped/leapt
learn	learned/learnt	learned/learnt
light	lighted/lit	lighted/lit
smell	smelled/smelt	smelled/smelt
speed	speeded/sped	speeded/sped
spill	spilled/spilt	spilled/spilt
spoil	spoiled/spoilt	spoiled/spoilt
weave	weaved/woven	weaved/woven
wet	wetted/wet	wetted/wet

 

3 Another category includes those irregular verbs which have past tenses that never end in -ed and which have the same form as that of the past participles. The following verbs are included in this category:

 

infinitive	past tense	past participle
bend	bent	bent
build	built	built
dig	dug	dug
feel	felt	felt
fight	fought	fought
find	found	found
get	got	got
hear	heard	heard
hold	held	held
keep	kept	kept
lay	laid	laid
lead	led	led
leave	left	left
lend	lent	lent

 

lose	lost	lost
make	made	made
mean	meant	meant
meet	met	met
pay	paid	paid
say	said	said
sell	sold	sold
send	sent	sent
shine	shone	shone
sit	sat	sat
sleep	slept	slept
spend	spent	spent
stand	stood	stood
stick	stuck	stuck
strike	struck	struck
swing	swung	swung
teach	taught	taught
tell	told	told
think	thought	thought
understand	understood	understood
weep	wept	wept
win	won	won

 

4 Another category includes irregular verbs which have regular past tense forms ending in -ed or -d and two possible past participles, one of which is regular and the same as the past tense. The following verbs are included in this category:

 

infinitive	past tense	past participle
mow	mowed	mowed/mown
prove	proved	proved/proven
sew	sewed	sewed/sewn
show	showed	showed/shown
sow	sowed	sowed/sown

swell            swelled swelled/swollen

 

5 Another category includes irregular verbs which have past tenses and past participles which are different from each other and different from the infinitive. Some common verbs in this category are included in the following list:

 

infinitive	past tense	past participle
bear	bore	borne
begin	began	begun
bite	bit	bitten
blow	blown	blew
break	broke	broken
choose	chose	chosen
do	did	done
draw	drew	drawn
drink	drank	drunk
drive	drove	driven
eat	ate	eaten
fall	fell	fallen
fly	flew	flown
forbid	forbade	forbidden
forgive	forgave	forgiven
forget	forgot	forgotten
freeze	froze	frozen
give	gave	given
grow	grew	grown
hide	hid	hidden
know	knew	known
lie	lay	lain
ride	rode	ridden
rise	rose	risen
ring	rang	rung
see	saw	seen
shake	shook	shaken

 

shrink	shrank	shrunk
speak	spoke	spoken
steal	stole	stolen
swear	swore	sworn
swim	swam	swum
take	took	taken
tear	tore	torn
throw	threw	thrown
wake	woke	woken
wear	wore	worn
write	wrote	written

 

Transitive verb and intransitive verb

 

 

We have seen above that it is only transitive verbs which are affected by voice. Transitive verbs are verbs which can take a direct object (see 1). In the sentence The men love their children.

 

the noun children is a direct object and the verb love is transitive. Similarly, in the sentence The children like jelly.

 

the noun jelly is a direct object and the verb like is transitive. On the other hand, in the sentence Snow fell yesterday.

 

the verb fell (fall) is intransitive because it does not take an object. Similarly, in the sentence The situation improved.

 

the verb improved (improve) is intransitive.

 

Many verbs can be either transitive or intransitive according to context. Thus, in the sentence They both play the piano.

 

the verb play is transitive, while, in the sentence The children play on the beach every day.

 

the verb play is intransitive.

 

Similarly, in the sentence

 

They climb the highest mountains.

 

the verb climb is transitive, while in the sentence, The paths climb steeply.

 

the verb climb is intransitive.

 

In the following sentences the underlined words form a transitive verb: We know the truth.

They hate the climate here.

I   chose the blue curtains. You will adore him. 

She crossed the street. We are painting the house.

 They dig the garden at weekends. We appreciate the gesture.

 They welcome the praise. The doctor cured him. We want more money. They drink red wine. She is picking flowers.

 

In the following sentences the underlined words form an intransitive verb: A figure appeared.

 

She blushes easily.

 

These plants grow rapidly.

We failed.

They work hard.

He died yesterday.

He talks constantly.

Things are going badly.

I walk with difficulty.

They ran away.

She is sleeping.

 

Linking verb

 

 

A linking verb, also called a copula or copular verb, is a verb that ‘links’ a subject with its complement. Unlike other verbs, linking verbs do not denote an action but indicate a state.

 

The most common linking verb is be, as in: He is a fool.

 

Others include become, seem, appear, look, as in: You seemed rather an anxious person.

 

and

 

He looks a new man.

 

In the following sentences the underlined words form linking verbs: He appears quite calm.

 

She appears a very competent young woman.

 

Mary looks quite exhausted.

It looks just what we want.

Jim became a famous writer.

I feel a different person after my holiday.

I feel unwell.

 

Auxiliary verb

 

 

An auxiliary verb (see 1) is a verb that is used with a main verb to form certain tenses and to form a negative or question and to form the passive voice. The main auxiliary verbs are be, have and do. These are also known as primary auxiliary verbs and all three can also be used as main verbs, as in: The house is very old.

 

I have a book.

and

 

I do a lot of work in the garden.

 

The verb be is used as an auxiliary verb with the -ing of the main verb to form the continuous present tense, as in: We are thinking of moving house

and

 

She is attending school.

 

The verb be is used with the past participle (see 2) of the main verb to form the passive voice, as in: The car was parked here

and

 

Her hands were covered in blood.

 

The verb have is used as an auxiliary verb with the past participle (see 3) of the main verb to form the present perfect tense and the past perfect tense as in: We have opened the box.

and

 

I had assumed that the two of you were old friends.

 

The verb be is used as an auxiliary verb with the main verb to form negative sentences, as in: She is not accepting the job.

and

 

The work is not finished yet.

 

The verb do is also used as an auxiliary verb with the main verb to form negative sentences, as in: I do not believe you.

and

 

She did not love him.

 

The verb do is also used as an auxiliary verb with the main verb to form questions, as in: Do they still live here?

and

 

Did they go by bus?

 

The verb do is also used as an auxiliary verb with the main verb to emphasize the main verb, as in: The bus does stop here, I’m sure.

and

 

The shop does open on Sundays.

 

In the following sentences the underlined words form primary auxiliary verbs:

 

He does still love her, he says.

 

Does the bus stop here?

 

She doesn’t work here now.

The scheme is not operating yet.

We have rejected the idea.

I had somehow got the idea that you were related to him.

 

Modal auxiliary verb

 

 

A modal auxiliary verb is a verb that is used with a main verb to help it express a wide range of meanings including possibility, probability, ability, permission, prediction, obligation, suggestions, requests, invitations, offers, promises etc. The main modal auxiliary verbs are can, could, may, might, will, shall, would, should, must, ought to. Modal auxiliary verbs, unlike primary auxiliary verbs, cannot be used as main verbs, having only one form. In the following sentences the underlined words all form examples of modal auxiliary verbs: The child can ride a bike.

 

She could stay there if she wanted to.

You may borrow the car if you return it by lunchtime.

We may be in time for the 5 o’clock train.

He might still have the receipt for the book.

We should get there before nightfall.

Those who make fraudulent claims shall be prosecuted.

Will you have some more tea?

Would you take a seat over there, please.

You may prefer to come back another time.

You might prefer to pay by credit card.

Can you post this letter for me?

Could you give her a message?

We must get there before dinner.

You must leave at once.

They ought to pay for the damage.

You could endanger your life by such an action.

 

Concord

 

 

Concord or verb agreement refers to the fact that a verb must ‘agree’ with the subject in number. In other words a singular subject must be accompanied by a singular verb, as in: The boy loves chocolate.

 

And a plural subject must be accompanied by a plural verb, as in: The boys love chocolate.

 

Concord is not a big issue in English since verbs in English generally have the same form, irrespective of number, apart from the change of form in the third person singular of the present tense when -s or -es is added to the base form. A difficulty arises when a subject takes the form of a singular noun linked to a plural noun by of, as in: A number of problems.

 

Although it is grammatically correct to use a singular verb, as in the sentence A number of problems has arisen.

 

it is common in modern usage to have the verb agreeing with the plural noun because it is nearest to it, this sounding more natural, as in: A number of problems have arisen.

 

Sometimes it depends on whether the writer or speaker wishes to emphasize the unity of the group of things or people referred to or whether the individual components are to be emphasized. Thus, in the sentence A collection of his paintings is to be displayed at the town hall.

 

the verb is singular because the paintings are being regarded as a single entity. However, in the sentence A collection of miscellaneous valuable objects were found in the thief’s house.

 

the verb is in the plural form because the emphasis is on the number of individual objects. This duality of singular and plural verbs also arises with regard to some collective nouns. Thus in the sentence The family is what matters most to her.

the verb is singular, whereas in the sentence The family are coming from all parts of the world to be home for Christmas.

 

the verb is plural.

 

Parts of a verb

 

 

Infinitive

 

The infinitive, or base, is the form of a verb when used without any indication of person, number or tense. There are two forms of the infinitive. One is the to infinitive form, as in: They wished to leave.

 

The child has nothing to do.

 

The other form of the infinitive, without to, is sometimes called the base infinitive. This form consists of the base form of the verb without to, as in: We saw him fall. and She watched him go.

 

 

NB: The split infinitive

 

The split infinitive is an infinitive that has had another word in the form of an adverb placed between itself and to, as in to rudely push

 

and

 

to quietly accept.

 

This was once considered a bad grammatical error, but the split infinitive is becoming acceptable in modern usage. In any case, it sometimes makes for a clumsy sentence if one slavishly follows the correct form.

 

 

 

Participles

 

There are two participles. One is the present participle which is formed by adding the ending -ing to the base or infinitive form, as in going. If the base form ends in -e, the -e is usually removed before the -ing ending is added, as making. The other is the past participle which is formed by adding the ending - ed to the base or infinitive form.

 

Present participle

 

The present participle is used with parts of the verb be to form the continuous present tense (see 1) and other continuous tenses, as in: I am waiting.

and

 

She was watching.

 

The present participle can also function as an adjective, positioned next to the noun which it modifies.

In the following phrases the underlined word is a present participle functioning as an adjective: no running water the sinking ship

 

the protesting crowd the whispering onlookers the crumbling sea wall a disappearing way of life a fading memory the driving rain.

 

 

 

The present participle can also function as a noun. (verbal noun (see 1)).

 

The present participle is also used in participial phrases.

 

Past participle

 

In regular verbs, the past participle (see 1, 2, 3) has the same form as the past tense. In the case of irregular verbs, however, the past participle is formed in different ways.

 

The past participle is used with parts of the verb have to form the perfect tense and other perfect tenses.

 

The past participle is also used in participial phrases (see 2).

 

EXERCISES 5

 

 

1 Which of the following are parts of regular verbs?

 

walked, looked, stuck, met, smiled, kept, held, seemed, hated, meant, climbed, drew, loved, begun, laughed, worked, felt, called, fought, rained, snowed.

 

2 Write down the past tense of the following irregular verbs.

 

do, swim, drink, fly, rise, blow, tear, throw, write, shut, choose, tell, think, understand, dig, find, send, build, cut, hit, make, grow, ring, speak, break, wear, give, know, steal.

 

3 The following sentences contain underlined verbs in the past tense. Rewrite the sentences to contain the same verbs but in the continuous past tense.

 

The man stood outside the shop.

 

The church bells rang out.

The children slept peacefully.

The mother rocked the cradle slowly.

The sun shone brightly from very early in the morning.

They walked as fast as they could.

I studied English at university.

 

4 Which of the following underlined verbs are in the future tense?

 

We will go immediately.

 

I am cleaning the house just now.

They will need a visa to cross the border.

The project will cost a lot of money.

He was sure of success.

She is about to leave on a dangerous journey.

We have finished the job.

Things are going to improve soon.

I will consult my solicitor shortly.

They are going to submit an application.

The luggage was damaged during the flight.

 

5 Which of the following underlined verbs are in the subjunctive mood, which are in the imperative mood and which are in the indicative mood?

 

If I were the head teacher, I would exclude the bullies immediately. Get out now!

He sells a wide range of electrical goods.

The parking regulations apply only in the city centre.

Watch out!

We walk to work every morning.

I suggest that the students’ lockers be searched for the stolen goods.

It rained all last week.

I demand that you give me back the money immediately.

Stop thief!

I believe him.

 

6 In the following sentences which of the underlined verbs are in the active voice and which are in the passive voice?

 

Rain is spoiling the picnic.

 

He was driving the lorry dangerously.

She was supported by her husband.

Someone has stolen a valuable painting from the art gallery.

A bicycle has been stolen from the shop by a gang of youths.

The severe storm destroyed the crops.

The whole village was devastated by the tragedy.

We are digging a new flower garden.

The ancient artefact was found by a farmer in his field.

The floods damaged a great deal of property.

The ball was thrown over the hedge by the boy.

A new office system is being tested right now.

 

7 In the following sentences which verbs are transitive and which are intransitive?

 

Snow fell that night.

 

They need a place to live.

They painted the front door.

 

Things went well.

A man suddenly appeared.

They welcomed their guests warmly.

We were picking wild flowers.

Their guests drank only water.

The tree grew rapidly.

Doctors could not cure the patient.

We worked all night.

The child chose two library books.

She died about a year ago.

Few people know the real facts.

He can’t walk without a stick now.

 

8 Write out the sentences which contain a linking verb, underlining each of the linking verbs.

 

The ghost, apparently, appeared last night.

 

She appears a different person since her counselling sessions.

We looked carefully at samples.

He looked in the mirror.

She looks a suitable enough candidate for the job.

She says that she feels a completely new person since her short break.

Jack became a lawyer.

They seem fine young people.

His brother is a doctor.

She is an attractive young woman.

Her father appeared to her in a dream.

It seems an appropriate solution.

We looked over a few houses.

 

9 Write out the sentences which contain a modal auxiliary verb, underlining each of the modal auxiliary verbs.

 

Could you give me some assistance?

 

She does have talent.

They might get there in time, if the traffic’s light.

Jack did know the accident victim.

She should pass the driving test first time.

 

She has lost her memory.

Dad says that we may borrow the car.

She is taking great care of them.

They could lose a lot of money in this venture.

I can’t meet you today.

The task is not finished yet.

Would you come this way, please?

Can you sign here, please?

We are studying the evidence.

Might we discuss this at a more convenient time?

 

10 Write out the sentences which contain the base infinitive of a verb, underlining each base infinitive.

 

I heard him go.

 

We wished him to leave.

We watched the children play.

I have to go now.

He saw her die.

Have you something important to say?

I want you to give me some advice.

Did you see him attack her?

They aimed to leave right away.

We both heard someone drive past the house.

Many older workers plan to take early retirement.

Two people witnessed the man fall from the bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS 5

 

 

1 walked, looked, smiled, seemed, hated, climbed, loved, laughed, worked, called, rained, snowed.

 

2 did, swam, drank, flew, rose, blew, tore, threw, wrote, shut, chose, told, thought, understood, dug, found, sent, built, cut, hit, made, grew, rang, spoke,

broke, wore, gave, knew, stole.

 

3 The man was standing outside the shop.

 

The church bells were ringing out.

The children were sleeping peacefully.

The mother was rocking the cradle slowly.

The sun was shining brightly from very early in the morning.

They were walking as fast as they could.

I was studying English at university.

 

4 future tense will go, will need, will cost, is about to leave, are going to improve, will consult, are going to submit.

 

5 subjunctive mood were, be searched, give back.

 

imperative mood get out, watch out, stop.

indicative mood sells, apply, walk, rained, believe.

 

6 active voice is spoiling, was driving, has stolen, destroyed, are digging, damaged.

passive voice was murdered, has been stolen, was devastated, was found, was thrown, is being tested.

 

7 transitive need, painted, welcomed, picking, drank, cure, chose, know.

 

intransitive fell, went, appeared, grew, worked, died, walk.

 

8 She appears a different person since her counselling sessions.

 

She looks a suitable enough candidate for the job.

She says that she feels a completely new person since her short break.

 

Jack became a lawyer.

They seem fine young people.

His brother is a doctor.

She is an attractive young woman.

It seems an appropriate solution.

 

9 Could you give me some assistance?

 

They might get there in time, if the traffic’s light.

She should pass the driving test first time.

Dad says that we may borrow the car.

They could lose a lot of money in this venture.

I can’t meet you today.

Would you come this way, please?

 

Can you sign here, please?

Might we discuss this at a more convenient time?

 

10 I heard him go.

 

We watched the children play.

He saw her die.

Did you see him attack her?

 

We both heard someone drive past the house.

 

Two people witnessed the man fall from the bridge.