Verb and classification of verbs, Basic English Grammar.

     

-:  VERB AND KINDS OF VERB:-

Definition of verb :

VERB :- A word that stands for doing or being something is called verb.

OR.  A verb is a word used for saying something about some person or thing. –J.C. Nesfield.

OR. A verb is a word which says something about a subject. Or we may say, a verb is a word which says what a subject does, what is done to it, or what it is. A verb is the most important word in a sentence.

                All these definitions describe the ‘verb’ as a word that says something about something. (some person or thing )

This something actually implies an action or state.

            -:    Classification of verbs :-

The most general classification of the verb is into

(i) Main Verb  and 

(ii) Auxiliary Verb.

      -:   Main Verbs    :-

(i) Main Verb :- All verbs other than Auxiliary verbs are called Main Verbs. The main verb is also called the Principal verb or full verb. This is important in the sentence. 

        Actually, a main verb is any verb in a sentence which is not an auxiliary verb.

Main Verb can be divided into six forms, they are;

(i) Transitive Verb

(ii) Intransitive Verb

(iii) Regular Verb

(iv) Irregular Verb

(v) Finite Verb

(vi) Infinite Verb 

            -:    Auxiliary Verbs :-

Auxiliary Verbs are known as helping verbs and help the Principal verbs to form their tense or mood.

Auxiliary verbs are used primarily to show whether an action is complete, habitual or continuous. These are also used in negation, interrogatives and emphatic statements.

 Auxiliary verbs are divided into thee  forms, they are in the following;

(i) Principal Auxiliary verbs :  They are eleven in number.- 

 is/am/are/was/were/do/does/did/has/have/had.

 (ii) Modal Auxiliary verbs : They are ten in number -

 Shall/Will/Should/Would/Can/could/May/Might/Must/Ought to.

(iii) Semi-Modals : They are three in number.- Need/Dare/Used to.

         

                    

Principal                     Auxiliary verbs         (11)	Modal                         Auxiliary verbs           (10)	Semi-Modal         (3)
Is / Am / Are / Was /Were / Do / Does / Did / Has / Have / Had.	Shall / Will / Should / Would / Can / Could / May / Might / Must / Ought to.	Need / Dare / Used to.

 

        -: Definition of Transitive Verbs :-

Transitive Verb :- A Transitive Verb is a verb that needs an object in a sentence to complete its meaning. 

Transitive verb is a verb that requires an object to receive the action.

The object after a transitive verb can be a Noun or a pronoun.

or, A transitive verb is a verb needed both Subject and Object which is expressed in the sentence.

Look at the sentences given below.

He kicked.

This sentence is incomplete. There is an action that is missing.

We are perhaps wondering that whom 'He' kicked. Whom did 'he' kick?

Here 'kicked' is the past form of 'kick' and a transitive verb. we know that transitive verb needs an object after it to complete the sentence. Now, look at the sentence,

* He kicked the ball.

Now the sentence, "He kicked the ball." is complete. Now, we all can understand that whom he kicked.

Now, Look at some other examples;

* I see.

You think what I see. I see (what ?). What do I see ?

We know that 'see' is a Transitive Verb and transitive verb takes an object after it. So the sentence is incomplete. Now, look at the sentence.

* I see an aeroplane. Now, you can understand what I see. So the sentence is complete.

* He loves.

He loves.(whom?).--incomplete sentence.

He loves his mother. ---Complete sentence.

* The hunter killed.

The hunter killed. (whom?)----incomplete sentence.

The hunter killed the tiger. ----Complete sentence.

          -:  Definition of Intransitive Verbs :-

Intransitive Verb :- The verb used without an object is called an Intransitive verb.

or, Intransitive Verb is a verb that does not take a direct object or does not need a direct object. It means, The opposite of Transitive Verb is an Intransitive Verb.

     look at the sentence;

* The child cries. (state)

In this sentence, 'cries' is a verb. Here, 'cries' (a verb ) does not take a 

direct object in this sentence and the sentence is meaningful. so, here 'cries' is an Intransitive Verb.

Example-2

Rivers flows.

In this sentence, 'flows' is an intransitive verb because the verb 'flows' is used without a direct object. And we can understand what the sentence wants to tell. And the sentence is complete without direct object.

Example -3

* The horse runs fast.

In this sentence, there is not a direct object. So the verb, 'runs' is an intransitive verb. Here the veb, 'runs' take a word 'fast' after it. But 'fast' is not a direct object. It is an adverb.

Example-4

* He goes to school.

Here, 'goes' is an intransitive verb because it does not take a direct object after it. It ('goes'-an intransitive) took 'to school' after it. But 'to school' is not a direct object. It is a complement.

list of some pure Intransitive Verb: 

( try, die, Laugh, live, run, come, sit, go, sleep,stand etc.)

Differences between Transitive and Intransitive Verbs:

(A) 

(i) Transitive verbs need an object to complete their meaning.

(ii) Intransitive verbs need not an object to complete their meaning.

(B) 

(i)  A sentence with a transitive verb can be changed into passive voice.

(ii)  A sentence with an intransitive verb can not be changed into passive voice.

(C)

(i)Transitive Verbs can be followed by both direct objects or indirect objects.  

(ii) Intransitive verbs can be followed by a complement.

Some Verbs that are both Transitive and Intransitive Verbs:

There are some verbs that can be both transitive and intransitive verbs, depending on the situation. When they have direct object, are called Transitive and when they did not have direct object, are called Intransitive verbs.`

Look at the Examples:

A. (i) Ring the bell. ( 'Ring' - a transitive verb )

    (ii) The bell rang loudly. ( 'Rang' past form of Ring - an intransitive verb )

B. (i) The driver stopped the car. ( 'stopped' - used as a transitive )

    (ii)  The car stopped suddenly. ( here 'stopped' - used as an intransitive )

C. (i) I feel a severe pain in my head. ( hee 'feel' is used as Transitive verb )

    (ii) How does she feel now. ( here 'feel' is used as an Intransitive verb )

D. (i) The child damaged the picture. (Here 'damaged' is used as Transitive )

    (ii) The building was damaged completely. ( Here 'damaged' is used as an Intransitive )

    Definition of Regular Verb :

In English Grammar, all the verbs are either regular or irregular, depending on how they are conjugated.

(iii) REGULAR VERB :- A Regular Verb is a verb that forms its simple past tense and past participle by adding - 'd' or 'ed' at the end. 

Example of Regular Verbs :

                   

               

Base form (v1)	Simple Past (v2)	Past Participle (v3)
Arrive Accept Behave Call Compare Die End	Arrived Accepted   Behaved called compared Died Ended	Arrived  Accepted Behaved Called Compared Died Ended

 

    

Now, easier way to remember the forms of Regular Verb:

Example - 1               

               

Base form (v1)	Simple Past (v2)	Past participle (v3)
Accepted Appear Collect Defeat Defend	Accepted Appeared Collected Defeated Defended	Accepted Appeared Collected Defeated Defended

 

  

     Example -2

    If the verb (Base form) ends in 'e' , then only 'd' is added to the Base Form.

    

Base Form (v1)	Simple Past (v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Arrive Like Advise Hate Agree Die	Arrived Liked Advised Hated Agreed Died	Arrived Liked Avised Hated Agreed Died

 Example -3

If the verb ends in -'y' and 'y' is preceded by a consonant, then we simply change 'y' into 'i' and add 'd' or 'ed' to the verb.

Base form(v1)	Simple Past(v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Copy Fry Lay Say	Copied Fried Laid Said	Copied Fried Laid Said

 Example -4

If the verb ends in a single consonant and the consonant is preceded by a single vowel, then the last consonant is doubled.

Base form(v1)	Simple Past(v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Beg Drop Travel Quarrel	Begged Dropped Travelled Quarrelled	Begged Dropped Travelled Quarrelled

 Definition of Irregular Verb :

IRREGULAR VERB :- An irregular verb is a verb whose conjugation follows a different pattern, is called an irregular verb.az,'

or, An irregular verb is a verb that does not form its simple past tense or past participle by adding -'d' or 'ed' to the base form of the verb.

Example of some Irregular Verbs;

Base form(v1)	Simple Past(v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Bring  Buy Come Do	Brought Bought Came Did	Brought Bought Come Done

 The best way to remember Irregular Verbs :

To remember the irregular verbs, study them in groups. The most common irregular verbs are given in groups in the following;

GROUP -1

Base form(v1)	Simple Past(v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Bet Cost Fit Hit Hurt Let Put Read Slit Cut Set Rid Shut	Bet Cost Fit Hit Hurt Let Put Read Slit Cut Set Rid Shut	Bet Cost Fit Hit Hurt Let Put Read Slit Cut Set Rid Shut

 GROUP -2

Base form(v1)	Simple Past(v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Come Become Overcome Ring Run Shrink Sing Sink Sit Begin Get	Came Became Overcame Rang Ran Shrank Sang Sank Sat Began Got	Come Become Overcome Rung Run Shrunk Sung sunk sat Begun Got/Gotten

 GROUP -3

Base form(v1)	Simple Past(v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Bring Buy Beseech Bind Fight Find	Brought Bought Besought Bound Fought Found	Brought Bought  Besought Bound Fought Found

 GROUP -4

Base form(v1)	Simple Past(v2)	Past Participle(v3)
Aide Behold Breed Build Bend Feel Feed Flee	Abode Beheld Bred Built Bent Felt Fed Fled	Abode Beheld Bred Built Bent Felt Fed Fled

     FINITE AND INFINITE VERBS :-

Verbs are generally divided into two parts according to their forms

(i) Finite Verbs

(ii) Infinite Verbs

Definition of Finite Verbs ;-

The verb which is just after the Subject and changes its form according to the tense of the sentence, or person of the subject or Number of the Subject, is called a Finite Verb.

It means, Finite verbs are bound by tense of the sentence, person of the subject, or number of the subject.

Examples:

Finite verbs change according to tense of the sentence.

* He eats rice. (present tense)

* He ate rice. (past tense)

Both the above sentences have the same subjects, 'He'. But their verbs changed its forms according to tense. First one is present tense and second one is past tense.

so, the verbs(eats/ate) are Finite verbs. 

* He is a doctor. (Present Tense) Here 'is' is a Finite verb

* He was a doctor. (Past Tense) Here 'was' is a Finite verb.

Finite Verbs change according to Person :

Example :

* I watch a movie. (Present Tense)

* He watches a movie. (Present Tense)

Here, both the above sentences are in Present Tense. But the forms of the verbs (watch/watches) are different because of persons ( I / He ). Form of the verbs changes with the change of Persons of the Subject.

Finite verbs change according to Number of the Subject :

* He plays cricket. (Present)

* They play cricket. (Present)

The two sentence written above are in Present Tense. But the forms of the verbs (Plays / Play ) are different because of changing of the Number of the  Subjects.

Definition of Infinite Verb :-

A verb which does not have a Subject or a tense and which does not change its form according to the Tense of the Sentence or Person of the Subject or Number of the Subject, is called an Infinite Verb.

    There are three types of Infinite Verbs;

(1) Infinitive - ( To+ V1 - used as a noun, adjective or adverb) 

(2) Gerund - ( v1+ ing - used as Noun)

(3) Participle - ( there are three types of Participle)

i) Present Participle - (v1+ing - used as present continuous or adjective)

ii) Past Participle -(v3 - used as perfect tense or adjective)

iii) Perfect Participle - (Having + v3 = Having + Past Participle)

Definition of Infinitive :

The Infinitive is the first form or Base form of a verb. It is always preceded 'to'. It does not change its form with the change of Tense of the sentence or Person and Number of the Subject. It is used as Noun, Adjective or Adverb in the sentence.

The structure is - To+ v1

Examples : 

* 1. To lie is a sin.

In this sentence, 'To lia' is an Infinitive verb and used as a Subject of the verb 'is'.

* 2. Nagma likes to sing.

Here 'to sing' is an Infinitive verb and is used as an object of the verb 'likes'. 

*3. You were about to start.

Here, 'to start' is a infinitive verb and is used as an object of the preposition ''about'.

*4. THe best way is to avoid her.

In this sentence, 'to avoid' is an infinitive verb and is used  a complement of the verb 'is.

*5. There is no time to waste.

In the above sentence, 'to waste' is an infinitive and it is used to qualify a noun 'time'.

 *6. He is too weak to walk.

 In this sentence, 'to walk' is an infinitive nd used to qualify Adjective 'weak'.

    Definition of Gerund :

A Gerund is the form of the verb which ends in 'ing' and the form is used as a Noun. It is also called doubled part of speech. Because it is the combination a noun and a verb.

or, When the 'ing -form' of a verb is used as a Noun, it is called a Gerund. The structure is - (v1+ing). Gerund can be used in the four forms ;

i) Subject to a verb

ii) object of the verb

iii) Complement of the verb

iv) Object to the preposition

Eamples ;

* 1. Smoking is injurious to health.

In this sentence, 'smoking' is a Gerund. because, it is 'v1+ing' and sues s a Subject to the verb 'is'.

* 2. I like reading books. 

Here 'reading' is a Gerund. It ends in 'ing' and it is a object of the erb 'like'. So, it acts as a Noun.

*3. Her hobby is reading comics. (reading - Complement of the verb 'is').

* 4. He is tired of waiting. ( waiting - Object to the Preposition 'of' )

Definition of Participle :-

A Participle is an Infinite Verb which is partly a verb and partly an Adjective formed from the base form of the verb.

            Kinds of Participle :-

There are three kinds of participle;

(i)                Present Participle

(ii)              Past Participle

(iii)            Perfect participle   

Present Participle :- Present Participle is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the base form of the verb. It acts as a continuous Tense or An Adjective.

            The structure is – (v1+ ing)

Examples :

·        1. Nagma is singing a song.

Here, ‘singing’ is a Present Participle. IT is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the verb ‘sing’. It acts as a present continuous Tense.

Example -2.

·       *  Barking dogs seldom bite.

In this sentence, ‘Barking’ is a present participle. It is formed by adding ‘ing’ to the verb ‘Bark’. And it acts as an Adjective which qualifies the noun ‘dogs’.

Past Participle :- A Past Participle is a word which is formed from the Base form of the verb. It is called third form(v3) of the verb. It acts as an Adjective and in the formation of Perfect Tenses in the active voice and of all Tenses in the passive voice. It denotes a complete action.

Examples :

·        I have plucked the mango.

 

In this sentence, ‘plucked’ is a Past Participle. It is formed from ‘pluck’ the base form of the verb. Here ‘plucked’ acts as a verb in the Perfect Tense.

Example –2.

·        The cat was killed by the dog.

In this sentence, ‘killed’ is a Past Participle. Here, killed’ acts as a verb(v3) in the Passive Voice.

Example – 3.

This is a broken cup.

In this sentence, ‘broken’ is a Past Participle. Here ‘broken’ acts as an Adjective. Because it describes a Noun, ‘cup’.  

Perfect Participle : - A perfect participle is the combination of Having / Having been and past participle(v3). It shows two actions at a time, but one action completes then the other one starts. It show complete action. The structure is – Having + v3  or Having + been + v3 .

Example :

Having completed my home work I went to school.

In this sentence, ‘completed’ is a perfect participle. It shows complete action.

Example – 2.

Having finished my dinner I went to sleep.

Example -3

The sun having appeared, the fog disappeared.

                     THE END.