VERBS

1. VERBS THEIR DEFINITION AND FUNCTION

2. Verb • A verb shows action (pondered, grins) links words (is, seemed), or accompanies another action verb as an auxiliary or helping verb (can, does). Harry honked the horn. (shows action) Harry is impatient. (links words) Harry was honking the truck’s horn. (accompanies the verb honking)

3. Classes of verbs • Verbs are generally grouped into three categories: • Action. • Auxiliary (helping). • Linking (state of being).

4. Action Verbs • An action verb shows action. Some action verbs are transitive; others are intransitive. (Note: the term action does not always refer to physical activity). Rain splashed the windshield. (trans.) Josie drove off the road. (intrans.)

5. Action Verbs • Transitive verbs have direct objects that receive the action. The health care industry employs more than seven million workers in the United States. (Workers is the direct object of the action verb employs.)

6. Action Verbs • Intransitive verbs communicate action that is complete in itself. They do not need an object to receive the action. My new college roommate smiles and laughs a lot. Note: Some verbs can be either transitive or intransitive. Ms. Hull teaches physiology and microbiology (transitive) She teaches well. (intransitive)

7. Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs • Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) help to form some of the tenses, the mood, and the voice of the main verb. I believe, I have always believed, and I will always believe in private enterprise as the backbone of economic well-being in America.

8. Linking (Copulative) Verbs • Common linking verbs: am, are, be, become, been, being, is, was, were • Additional linking verbs: appear, feel, look, seem, sound, grow, remain, smell, taste Note: These verbs function as linking verbs when do not show actual action. They are usually followed by an adjective.

9. Forms of Verbs • A verb’s form differs depending on its number (singular, plural), person (first, second, third), tense (present, past, future, present perfect, past perfect, future perfect), voice (active passive), and mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive).

10. Number of a Verb • Verb number indicates whether a verb is singular or plural. The verb and its subject must both be singular, or they must both be plural. My college enrolls high schoolers in summer programs. (singular) Many college enroll high schoolers in summer programs. (plural)

11. Person of a Verb • Person indicates whether the subject of the verb is first, second, or third person. The verb and its subject must be in the same person. Verbs usually have a different form only in third person singular of the present tense. 1P 2P 3P Singular I think you think he thinks Plural we think you think they think

12. Tense of a Verb • Tense indicates the time of an action or state of being. There are three basic verb tenses (past, present, and future) and three verbal aspects (progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive).

13. Present Tense • Present tense expresses action that is happening at the present time or action that happens continually, regularly. In the United States, more than seventy-five percent of workers hold service jobs.

14. Present Tense • Present progressive tense also expresses action that is happening at the present time, but it is always formed by combining am, are, and is and the present participle (ending in ing) of the main verb. More women than ever before are working outside the home.

15. Present Tense • Present perfect tense expresses action that began in the past and has recently been completed or is continuing up to the present time. My sister has taken four years of swimming lessons.

16. Present Tense • Present perfect progressive tense also expresses an action that began in the past but stresses the continuing nature of the action. Like the present progressive tense, it is formed by combining auxiliary verbs (have been or has been) and present participles. She has been taking them since she was six years old.

17. Past Tense • Past tense expresses action that is completed at a particular time in the past. A hundred years ago, more than seventy-five percent worked in agriculture.

18. Past Tense • Past progressive tense expresses past action that continued over an interval of time. It is formed by combining was or were with the present participle of the main verb. A century ago, my great- grandparents were farming.

19. Past Tense • Past perfect tense expresses an action in the past that occurs before another past action or an action that was completed by some specific past time. By dinnertime, my cousins had eaten all the olives.

20. Past Tense • Past perfect progressive tense expresses a past action but stresses the continuing nature of the action. It is formed by using had been along with the present participle. They had been eating the olives since they arrived two hours earlier.

21. Future Tense • Future tense expresses action that will take place in the future. Next summer, I will work as a lifeguard.

22. Future Tense • Future progressive tense expresses a continuous or repeating future action. I will be working for the park district at North Beach.

23. Future Tense • Future perfect tense expresses action that will begin in the future and be completed by a specific time in the future. By 10:00 p.m., I will have completed my research project.

24. Future Tense • Future perfect progressive tense also expresses future action that will be completed by a specific time, but (as with other perfect progressive tenses), stresses that action’s continuous nature. It is formed using will have been along with the present participle. I will have been researching the project for three weeks by the time it’s due.

25. Voice of a Verb • Voice indicates whether the subject is acting or being acted upon.

26. Voice of a Verb • Active voice indicates that the subject of the verb is doing something. People update their résumé on a regular basis.

27. Voice of a Verb • Passive voice indicates that the subject of the verb is receiving the action. Résumés are updated by people on a regular basis.

28. Mood of a Verb • The mood of a verb indicates the tone or attitude with which a statement is made.

29. Mood of a Verb • Indicativemood, the most common, is used to state a fact or to ask a question. President John F. Kennedy’s directive represents one ideal popular during that decade.

30. Mood of a Verb • Imperativemoodis used to give a command. (The subject of an imperative sentence is you, which is usually understood and not stated in the sentence). Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

31. Mood of a Verb • Subjunctive mood is used to express a wish, an impossibility or unlikely condition, or a necessity. The subjunctive mood has two general uses: (1) in clauses beginning with if or that to express an idea contrary to fact (2) in clauses beginning with that to express a request, a demand, or a proposal

32. Mood of a Verb • Expressing ideas contrary to fact: • Usually expressed as wishes or conditions. • The subjunctive mood helps to indicate that what is being expressed is not now, and may never be, true. Alex wished that he were a better driver. If she were driving to the beach now, she’d be happy.

33. Mood of a Verb • Expressing ideas contrary to fact: Note: When if clauses express ideas that may be factual, they do not use verbs in the subjunctive mood. If I want to drive to the lake, I know I’ll have to get up early, so I will set the alarm.

34. Mood of a Verb • Expressing requests, demands, and proposals: • Implies that the ideas expressed could or should be true soon. • A verb that expresses a request, demand, or proposal is often followed by a that clause, which will generally call for a verb in the subjunctive mood.

35. Mood of a Verb • Examples: Request: We ask that everyone be silent during the show. Demand: The driving instructor insists that every student drive carefully. Proposal: I move that the results of the survey be published.

36. Verbals • A verbal is a word that is made from a verb, but it functions as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. There are three types of verbals: gerunds, infinitives, and participles.

37. Gerunds • A gerund ends in ingand is used a noun. Walking each morning is the first challenge. (subject) I started moving at about seven o’clock. (direct object) I worked at jump-starting my weary system. (object of the preposition)

38. Infinitives • An infinitive is usually introduced by to; the infinitive may be used as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. To succeed is not easy. (noun) That is the most important thing to remember. (adjective) Students are wise to work hard. (adverb)

39. Participles • A present participle ends in ingand functions as an adjective. A past participle ends in ed(or another past tense form) and also functions as an adjective. The students reading those study- skill handouts are definitely interested. The prospect of aced tests and assignments must be appealing.

40. VERBS THEIR DEFINITION AND FUNCTION