Verbs
A verb is a part of speech that carries the idea of action
or existence in a clause. In other words, every clause
has at least one verb, and certain verbs are responsible
for putting the clause’s subject(s) into motion. Other
verbs instead will help to clarify the clause’s subject(s)
in a meaningful way.
There are four main forms of a verb. The process of
changing a verb into its different forms in order to give
it different functions is called verb conjugation.
▪ basic forms – A verb’s basic forms are its present
tense forms that agree with the seven nominative
personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, and they)
in clauses. The way a verb appears as a dictionary
headword (its infinitive form) as well as its spelling
that ends with the letter s are its basic forms.
▪ present participle – A verb’s present participle form
ends with the Old English suffix -ing. In addition to
functioning as the main verb of a clause, a word in
present participle form has the ability to work as an
adjective and even a noun.
▪ past tense – Most past tense verbs end with the Old English suffix -ed. These verbs are regular
verbs. Other verbs, known as irregular verbs, will not contain this suffix in their past tense
forms. To determine a verb’s past tense form, conjugate the verb to fit into the following
sentence: Yesterday, I _____.
▪ past participle – By featuring the suffix -ed, a regular verb’s past participle form will match its
past tense form. While an irregular verb’s past participle form may match its past tense form,
neither will end with -ed. To determine a verb’s past participle form, conjugate the verb to fit
into a sentence with the helping verb have, had, or has preceding it. In addition to functioning
as the main verb of a sentence, a word in past participle form has the ability to function as an
adjective.
Every clause has at least one subject (who or what the clause is about) and predicate (the subject’s complete action or state of existence), and a predicate is not complete unless it features a verb. Sometimes, a predicate will contain a verb phrase, which is made up of a main verb and any helping verb(s) accompanying it. In the English language, there are twenty-three words that can operate as helping verbs: is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been, do, does, did, may, might, must, have, had, has, will, shall, can, would, should, and could. Main verbs are also called lexical verbs, and helping verbs are also known as auxiliary verbs.
The verb or verb phrase present in a clause’s predicate is called the simple predicate. If a clause has only one word operating as a verb — that is, the simple predicate consists of just one word — the clause has no helping verb. Of the twenty-three words that can function as helping verbs, nine (may, might, must, will, would, shall, should, can, and could) cannot be the main verb of a clause.
Main verbs are divided into two basic categories – action verbs and linking verbs.
▪ action verbs – When one thinks of a verb, action verbs are the words that immediately come to
mind. Words such as run, jump, concur, regurgitate, malign, and illuminate are easy to spot
because they all demonstrate action. Putting the subject(s) of a clause into motion is the chief
responsibility of an action verb.
▪ linking verbs – Unlike action verbs, linking verbs do not indicate the action(s) of the subject(s)
of a clause. Rather, they play one of two key roles in a clause. First, a linking verb can
connect the subject(s) of a clause to a noun that identifies (renames) the subject(s). The other
job of a linking verb is to connect the clause’s subject(s) to an adjective that describes the
subject(s). (It is possible for a linking verb to connect the subject(s) to more than one noun or
adjective.) Common linking verbs in the English language are look, taste, feel, sound, smell,
become, seem, appear, grow, stay, turn, get, and remain as well as all conjugations of the
infinitive to be (is, am, are, was, were, be, being, and been). In a predicate, the noun or
adjective that the linking verb connects to the clause’s subject is called the subject complement.
Examples: My favorite restaurant is Outback Steakhouse. (The linking verb is connects the sentence’s simple subject, restaurant, to the subject complement, Outback Steakhouse, which is a noun that identifies (renames) the simple subject.)
Frank remained a fan of Queensryche after the band’s breakup. (The linking verb remained connects the sentence’s subject, Frank, to the subject complement, fan, which is a noun that identifies (renames) the subject.)
“This sandwich tastes delicious, Mr. Bates,” said Marion. (The linking verb tastes connects the sentence’s simple subject, sandwich, to the subject complement, delicious, which is an adjective that describes the simple subject.)
The manager of the Seattle Mariners seemed frustrated and disappointed during this afternoon’s meeting with reporters. (The linking verb seemed connects the sentence’s simple subject, manager, to two subject complements, frustrated and disappointed, which are both adjectives that describe the simple subject.)
Note: Some verbs that operate as linking verbs can also act as action verbs.
Examples: Damien felt uneasy while he was watching a documentary on antebellum slavery.
(The verb felt is a linking verb.)
The mechanic felt the deflated tire for the object responsible for causing its leak.
(The verb felt is an action verb.)
Kate Winslet looked gorgeous at the Academy Awards ceremony last February.
(The verb looked is a linking verb.)
A trio of detectives meticulously looked around the crime scene for clues.
(The verb looked is an action verb.)
▪ An infinitive is a grammatical element that consists of the preposition to followed by a verb’s
basic form. Examples of infinitives include to be, to cry, to laugh, to multitask, to flummox, and
to examine. Although an infinitive contains a verb, it does not operate as the verb of a clause
and is not part of a clause’s simple predicate. Consequently, the verb in an infinitive will never
be conjugated. An infinitive phrase is a group of words beginning with an infinitive and
including any other related words or phrases.
Examples: During the movie, all audience members need to refrain from talking.
(The infinitive is to refrain. The infinitive phrase is to refrain from talking.)
To find the Panda Express location nearest you, enter your zip code or click on
the interactive map below. (The infinitive is To find. The infinitive phrase is To find the Panda Express location nearest you.)