The Verb

Directions on the verb

1. The verb is the chief of the sentence that control sand governs it with the assistance of his ministers.These ministers are the noun,articles,pronoun,adjective,preposition,conjunction,adverb and interjection.The verb has to work in unison with them for a smooth rule and fluent administration.We need to make all these work in co-ordination for our success as writers.
2. A verb describes the action or condition of the subject (agent) or object of a sentence or clause.It tells about the subject or object.
3. A verb is an action word as much as it is descriptive of condition.
   
   • The people should elect suitable leaders for the assemblies.[elect-transitive verb]
     We had a horse race, and then we slept.[slept-intransitive verb]

Four kinds of verbs

1. Transitive verbs are verbs which require an object.
   
   • Active voice: The politicians damaged the country. [Transitive verb:damaged;object:the country.]
     Passive voice: The country was damaged by the politicians.
   • Active voice: The circumstances sank us into ignorance and poverty.
     Passive voice: We were sunk into ignorance and poverty by the circumstances.
2. Intransitive verbs are verbs which do not require an object.
   
   • They cried. (or) They cried when they heard the news.
   • She speaks attractively.They are loitering (standing purposelessly at street corners).
   • She is daydreaming.The crops are dying for want of water.
   • We sank into ignorance and poverty.
   Note. There are verbs that can be used in the transitive as well as in the intransitive form:
   • Intransitive: We play here.(without an object)
   • Transitive: We play hockey.(with an object)
   • Intransitive: We do not eat much.
   • Transitive: Do you like to eat roasted chicken?
3. Auxiliary or helping verbs (auxiliaries) are helping verbs that help the main verbs to complete their meaning or the sense of the sentence.
   
   • She has written a letter.["has" is helping "written," the main verb.]
     We have completed our journey.The work is being completed.
   • There are the modal auxiliaries or modals which are used with another main verb to express possibility,permission,duty,promise, etc,: can,could,may,might,ought to,shall,should,will,would,dare,need,used to.
   • Last year they could not marry,but now they can.
     He said that he might visit Kafiristan next month.
     We ought to walk and play every afternoon.
     They used to climb mountains,but now they sail over long distances.
   The common helping verbs are as follows:
   
   • be,am,is,are,was,were,been,has,have,had,does,do,did,can,could,should,will,would,might,may, etc.
   Helping verbs are in italics below:
   

   is working was going were coming

   will be leaving may replay should sit

   could think might have arrived may have returned

   does play must have applied do meet

   Note that many a helping verb can be used as a main verb.
   
   • I have eaten the fish (helping verb).I have the books I need.(have=possess,main verb)
     Rebbeca will join my class.(helping verb)She wills joining my class.(transitive verb)
   Modal auxiliaries are verbs that are used with other verbs to express possibility,permission,intention or necessity.
   
   • The modal auxiliaries are can,could,may,might,must,ought to,shall,should,will,should,dare, etc.
   They are used with other verbs thus:
   • You should go there.(obligation,duty)Can I play with them?(permission)We must take the exam(necessity).Alina may use my dictionary.(permission)We could study further,if we had a chance.(ability in unreal condition)
   • "s" cannot be added to these verbs in use.

   Modal auxiliaries You should visit Kaghan There he would play cricket

   Modal auxiliaries (substitute) You ought to visit Kaghan. There he used to play cricket.

4. Linking verbs are verbs which link or connect the subject with a noun or an adjective in the predicate that tells about the subject.A linking verb is a form of "be."
   Verbs that help to make statements by linking to words are called linking verbs.These verbs are intransitive (without objects).The linking verbs or state (condition)-of-being verbs are forms of the verb "be" as follows (any verb ending in "be" or been is a form of "be.")
   

   be being am is are were

   shall be will be has been have been had been will have been

   should be would be can be could be would have been could have been

   Some other commonly used linking verbs are:
   
   • appear,become,feel,grow,look,remain,seem,smell,sound,stay,taste,turn, etc.
     The dog is hungry.(Here "is" links the subject "dog" with the adjective "hungry.")

   How to identify a linking verb.

   (a)Put "is,are,was,were,will be" in place of the verbs used.If the sentences are still meaningful,it means that the verbs can be linking verbs.
   Further,see whether the verbs connect the noun or adjective in the predicate with the subject of the sentence.If they do this,they are surely linking verbs.Some linking verbs can be used as action verbs.
   

   Linking verbs 3.She looks sad. 4.The medicine tastes sweet.

   Action verbs Look at the tower. I only tasted the food.

   • George appears (seems) angry.You look a worried person.("appears" links George with "angry)
     The building became weak.("became" links "building" with "weak")
     The signal turned green.("turned" links "signal" with "green")
   (b)A verb expresses physical action,mental action or a condition.A verb that expresses a condition may be a linking verb.I links the subjects with a noun or an adjective in the predicate.
   Action and being verbs show
   (i)physical action,(ii)mental action,(iii)state of being(condition)
   A verb that expresses a state of being may be a linking verb.