Parts of Speech

VERB
 n Verbs are words that are used to express and action, a condition, or a state of being.

The violinists begin. Rehearsals are important.

A flutist entered late. The conductor seems enthusiastic.
I. Types of Verbs
Action Verbs
Linking Verbs
Auxiliary Verbs or Helping Verbs
A. Action Verbs

nAn action verb tells what someone or something does.

Some action verbs express physical action; others express mental action.

PHYSICAL ACTION The catcher often signals to the pitcher.

Examples: dance, sing, throw, jump, paddle

MENTAL ACTION A good catcher understands the batter’s technique.

Examples: trust, consider, analyze, generalize
n A transitive verb is an action verb that is followed by a word or words that answer the question what?
or whom?
n Transitive verbs transfer the action from the subject towards the direct object
Cats see their prey in the dark.
[The action verb see is followed by the noun prey, which answers the question see what?]

n An intransitive verb is an action verb that is not followed by a word that answers the question what?
or whom?
n Intransitive verbs do not transfer actions and do not have a direct object.
Cats see well in the dark.
[The action verb may be followed by words that tell how and where or by no words at all.]
B. Linking Verbs
n A linking verb links, or joins, the subject of a sentence (often a noun or pronoun) with a word or
expression that identifies or describes the subject.
n It can connect the subject with a noun, a subject to a pronoun, or an adjective in the predicate.
n In addition, most linking verb express a state of being and some express condition. Also, some verbs can
function as both action and linking verbs.

Forms of be Am, is, are, was, were, being, be

Can be, may be, might be, will be, could be,
would be, must be,
Has been, have been, bad been,
shall have been, could have been, would have
been, will have been
Express condition Appear, become, look, remain, sound, stay, feel,
see, taste, grow, smell, turn

I am an athlete. The players are fast.

Squash is an indoor sport. They were hockey fans.
C. Verb Phrases
• The verb in a sentence may consist of more than one word. The words that accompany the
main verb are called auxiliary, or helping, verbs.
• These verbs help the main verb to express action or make a statement.
• These are also used to indicate voice, mood or tenses.

Auxiliary Verbs
Forms of Be am, is, are, was, were, being, been
Forms of Have has, have, had
Other Auxiliaries can, could may, might must
do, does, did shall, should will, would
II. Properties of Verbs

A. Number – verbs can either be singular or plural. To form a singular verb, you can add -s
or -es (present tense).

B. Tense – this is determined by the time of action the verb is expressing (present, past,
future).
Generally, there are three sets of tenses 1) simple, 2) progressive, and 3) perfect tenses.

C. Mood – this shows the state of mind or the manner in which a statement is made.
It can be 1) Indicative, Imperative, or subjunctive.

D. Voice – this is determined by the functions of the subjects; it is either a receiver or the
doer.
III. Verb Forms
A. Infinitive
This is a verb in its dictionary form. This form is used if the action
happens in the present and the subject is a plural noun or pronoun.
• An infinitive usually begins with the word “to” and is followed by
the base form of a verb (the simple form of the verb that you would
find in the dictionary).
• An infinitive is a non-finite verb. In other words, it cannot be the main
verb in a sentence. An infinitive can be used as a noun, an adjective,
or an adverb.
 NOUN
• To dance was her passion.
(The infinitive is the subject of "was.")
Versus
• Dancing was her passion.
(This proves that the infinitive "to dance" is being used a noun.)

ADJECTIVE
• Give him an ornament to polish.
(The infinitive modifies "ornament." This means it is
functioning as an adjective.)
Versus
• Give him an ornament that he can polish.
(The clause "that he must polish" is an adjective clause. This
proves that the infinitive "to polish" is being used an adjective.)
ADVERB
•The officer returned to help.
(The infinitive modifies the verb "returned." This means it is
functioning as an adverb.)
Versus
•The officer returned so he could help.
(The clause "so he could help" is an adverbial clause. This
proves that the infinitive "to help" is being used an adverb.)
B. Past Tense
This shows that the verb’s action occurred in the past. The very is
usually made by adding -d or -ed to the infinitive. Some irregular verbs
are not covered by this form.
Rules for Forming the Past Tense
Most Verbs: add ed play – played
reach – reached
Verbs ending in e: add -d. believe – believed
Hope - hoped
Verbs ending with a consonant and y: Change y to try – tried
I and add -ed fry – fried
study – studied
empty – emptied
Verbs ending with a single vowel and a consonant: stop – stopped
double the final consonant and add -ed plan - planned
C. Past Participle
In this form, verbs are used with the verb ‘have’, ‘has’, ‘had’.
The past participle form is also used to modify nouns and
pronouns.
Example: He has lied to me too many times!

D. Present Participle
This kind of verb can modify nouns and pronouns. This is
also called a ‘gerund’. This also is used to create the progressive
tense.
Example: She is babysitting tonight.
E. -s or -es form
This is added to the verb when the action is in the present and
the subject is third-person singular. The addition of this to the verb
depends on the last letter of the verb.

Rules for Forming the Present Tense

Most Verbs: add -s get – gets
play - plays
Verbs ending in s, ch, sh, x, and z: add -es pass - passes
crunch – crunches
push – pushes
wax – waxes
fuzz – fuzzes
Verbs ending with a consonant and y: try – tries
Change y to I and add -es fry – fries
fly - flies
empty – empties