Verbs

A verb is the action we do.

Types of Verbs

Verbs in English can be classified in five different ways:

1. Helping Verbs & Main Verbs

Let's start by understanding what helping verbs and main verbs are:

2. Transitive Verbs & Intransitive Verbs

Main verbs are either transitive or intransitive. </div>

(i) Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs are action words that need a direct object to complete their meaning. In other words, they transfer the action from the subject to the direct object. [The direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb.] Here are some example sentences with transitive verbs:

• She bought a new dress. (The verb "bought" transfers the action to the direct object "a new dress.")
• They ate the delicious cake. (The verb "ate" transfers the action to the direct object "the delicious cake.")
• He wrote an email. (The verb "wrote" transfers the action to the direct object "an email.")
• We built a sandcastle. (The verb "built" transfers the action to the direct object "a sandcastle.")

Important Rules: 

(i) Every Transitive Verb has a direct object [which is a noun or pronoun].

The structure is: Subject + vt + direct object

• Cows eat grass.
• Dogs like meat. 

(ii) If a transitive verb has a direct object and an indirect object, the indirect one is placed before the direct object. 

The structure is: Subject + vt + indirect object + direct object

• He gave me a rose. 

If you put the indirect object after the direct object, you need to put a preposition before the indirect object. 

The structure is: Subject + vt + direct object + preposition + indirect object

• He gave a rose to me. 

(iii) Transitive verbs can be used in passive form. 

• Grass is eaten by cows.
• Meat is liked by dogs. 

(ii) Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs, on the other hand, do not need a direct object to complete their meaning. They express an action that does not transfer to any specific noun or pronoun. Here are some example sentences with intransitive verbs:

• The bird sings. (The verb "sings" does not require a direct object; it stands alone.)
• He runs every morning. (The verb "runs" does not transfer the action to any specific direct object.)
• The car crashed. (The verb "crashed" expresses an action but does not need a direct object.)
• They laughed loudly. (The verb "laughed" stands alone and does not transfer the action to a direct object.)

Remember!

(i) Intransitive verb does not have any object. 

• Cows moo.
  
• Dogs bark. 

(ii) Intransitive verbs are not used in passive form.

(iii) Ambi-transitive 

Some verbs can function both as transitive and intransitive. They are Ambi-transitive. For example, "write" can be transitive or intransitive.

• She writes a letter.
• He writes every day.

In the first sentence, "write" is transitive because it has a direct object ("a letter"), while in the second sentence, it is intransitive as there is no direct object.

Another ambi-transitive verb is “read”. 

• He reads in class 6. 
• He reads a book. 

Remember that understanding the distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs is important for constructing grammatically correct sentences and ensuring that the intended meaning is conveyed clearly.

(i) Action Verbs

Action verbs, as the name suggests, express actions or activities performed by the subject. They describe something that a person or an animal does physically. The underlined verbs in the following sentences are action verbs.

• She runs every morning.
  
• The kids play in the park.
• They ate dinner together.
• He built a sandcastle.
• We write letters to our grandparents.

(ii) State Verbs

State verbs, also known as stative verbs, describe a state, condition, or situation rather than an action. They express emotions, thoughts, feelings, possession, or states of being that are not actions or activities. The underlined verbs in the following sentences are state verbs.

• She knows the answer.
  
• He owns a beautiful house.
• They like ice cream.
• The flower smells delightful.
• I believe in you.

State verbs are typically not used in continuous tenses (e.g., present continuous or past continuous) because they describe a fixed state rather than an ongoing action. On the other hand, action verbs are commonly used in all tenses, including continuous tenses.

(i) Finite Verbs

A finite verb is a verb that has a specific tense, number, and person. It serves as the main verb in a sentence. A finite verb indicates when the action or state of being is happening and it agrees with the subject in terms of person and number.

Examples:

• She runs marathons. (present tense, singular)
• They completed the project. (past tense, plural)
• He is a talented musician. (present tense, singular)
• We will finish the assignment. (future tense, plural)

In these examples, "runs," "completed," "is," and "will finish" are finite verbs because they have a specific tense and agree with the subject in terms of number and person.

(ii) Nonfinite Verbs

Nonfinite verbs do not have a specific tense, number, or person. They are not restricted by the subject of the sentence and often function as infinitives, gerunds, or participles. Nonfinite verbs are used to convey a general action, state, or condition without specifying when or who is performing the action.

(a) Infinitives

• To run marathons requires dedication.
• To complete the project is our goal.

(b) Gerunds

• Running marathons requires dedication.
• Completing the project is our goal.

(c) Participles

• The completed project was well-received.
• Running marathons, she exemplifies determination.

In these examples, "to run," "to complete," "running," and "completed" are nonfinite verbs because they do not indicate a specific tense, number, or person. They are used in various constructions to convey general actions or states.

In summary, finite verbs have a specific tense, number, and person and serve as the main verbs in sentences, while nonfinite verbs lack these specific characteristics and are often used in various verbal constructions.

(i) Regular Verbs

Regular verbs follow a consistent pattern when forming the past tense and past participle. To create the past tense, regular verbs typically add "-ed" to the base form (infinitive) of the verb. To form the past participle, the same "-ed" ending is used.

Examples of regular verbs:

Examples of regular verbs in sentences:

• She talked to her friend.
• They played soccer in the park.
• The couple danced gracefully.

(ii) Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard "-ed" pattern when forming the past tense and past participle. Each irregular verb has its unique form for the past tense and past participle, and their patterns must be memorized.

Examples of irregular verbs:

Examples of irregular verbs in sentences:

• He went to the store.
• They ate dinner together.
• She sang a beautiful song.
• He wrote an email.

Irregular verbs can be challenging to learn because their past tense and past participle forms do not follow a predictable pattern. It's essential to memorize their irregular forms to use them correctly in sentences.

6. Causative Verbs

What are causative verbs?

Causative verbs are verbs that indicate the action of causing something to happen. These verbs show that a person or thing is making someone or something do or experience an action. In a causative construction, there are typically three participants: the causer, the causee, and the action.

There are two main types of causative constructions:

Causative with "Make" or "Have": This is a more direct causative construction, where the subject causes someone else to do something.

She made him cry.

I had the mechanic fix my car.

Causative with "Get": In this construction, the subject persuades or convinces someone to do something.

I got him to help me with the project.

She got her hair cut.

In these examples:

"She" is the causer.

"Him" or "the mechanic" is the causee.

"Cry," "fix," "help," or "cut" is the action.

It's important to note that causative constructions are used to describe actions that are influenced or caused by someone or something else. They are a way to express the idea that one person or thing is making another person or thing do something.

7. Confusing Verbs or Problem Verbs

Some verbs in English are commonly confused due to similarities in spelling, pronunciation, or meaning. Here are a few examples of frequently confused verbs:

Lay vs. Lie:

Lay means to place something down. Example: Please lay the book on the table.

Lie means to recline or be in a horizontal position. Example: I need to lie down for a moment.

Raise vs. Rise:

Raise is a transitive verb, meaning to lift or elevate something. Example: He raised his hand.

Rise is an intransitive verb, meaning to ascend or go up. Example: The sun will rise in the morning.

Affect vs. Effect:

Affect is usually a verb, meaning to influence or produce a change. Example: The new policy will affect everyone.

Effect is usually a noun, referring to a change that has occurred. Example: The new policy had a positive effect.

Accept vs. Except:

Accept is a verb, meaning to receive or agree to something. Example: She accepted the gift.

Except is a preposition or conjunction, indicating exclusion. Example: Everyone attended the meeting except John.

Bring vs. Take:

Bring implies movement toward the speaker. Example: Can you bring the documents to the meeting?

Take implies movement away from the speaker. Example: Please take these books to the library.

Lose vs. Loose:

Lose is a verb, meaning to misplace or be deprived of something. Example: Don't lose your keys.

Loose is an adjective, meaning not tight or released. Example: The knot is loose.

Its vs. It's:

Its is a possessive pronoun. Example: The cat licked its paws.

It's is a contraction of "it is" or "it has." Example: It's a beautiful day.

Ensure vs. Insure vs. Assure:

Ensure means to make sure something happens. Example: Please ensure the door is locked.

Insure is generally used in the context of insurance. Example: I will insure my car.

Assure means to guarantee or give confidence. Example: I assure you it will be fine.

These are just a few examples, and there are many more pairs of verbs in English that can be confusing. It's essential to pay attention to context and usage to choose the correct word in different situations.

8. Group Verbs, Phrasal Verbs & Prepositional Verbs

Group verbs, phrasal verbs, and prepositional verbs are different types of multi-word verbs in English, each with its own characteristics:

Group Verbs:

Group verbs are also known as "compound verbs" or "verb phrases."

They consist of more than one verb working together as a unit to convey meaning.

The first verb is usually a primary or auxiliary verb, and the second verb is typically the main verb.

Example: "She is singing." ("is" is the auxiliary verb, and "singing" is the main verb)

Phrasal Verbs:

Phrasal verbs consist of a main verb combined with one or more particles (usually prepositions or adverbs).

The combination of the main verb and the particle creates a new, often idiomatic, meaning.

Phrasal verbs can be separable (the object can come between the verb and the particle) or inseparable (the object must follow the particle).

Examples:

Turn off the lights. (separable)

She put up with the noise. (inseparable)

Prepositional Verbs:

Prepositional verbs are similar to phrasal verbs but involve a preposition instead of an adverb.

These verbs consist of a main verb and a preposition, and the combination often has a specific meaning.

The preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun, which acts as the object of the preposition.

Examples:

Believe in the magic. ("Believe" is the main verb, and "in" is the preposition)

Look after your sister. ("Look" is the main verb, and "after" is the preposition)

9. Forms of Verbs

In English, verbs can take on various forms, which are used to convey different tenses, aspects, moods, voices, and other grammatical features. The main forms of verbs in English include:

Base Form: This is the simplest form of a verb, usually the infinitive form without the "to" particle. For example: to run, to eat, to sleep.

Infinitive Form: This is the base form of a verb with the "to" particle. For example: to go, to study, to sing.

Simple Present: This form is used to describe actions that are habitual, factual, or generally true. For regular verbs, it often takes the base form, while for third-person singular subjects, an "s" is usually added. For example: I walk, he walks.

Simple Past: This form is used to describe completed actions in the past. It often involves adding "-ed" to regular verbs. For example: I walked, she talked.

Present Participle: This form is used to create continuous tenses and gerunds. It often involves adding "-ing" to the base form. For example: running, eating.

Past Participle: This form is used in various tenses, including the present perfect and past perfect. For regular verbs, it often involves adding "-ed." For example: gone, played.