Definition of Verbs
At its core, a verb is a word that embodies an action (like “jump”), an occurrence (such as “become”), or a state of being (for instance, “exist”). Verbs perform the vital task of expressing what the subject of a sentence is 'doing,’ essentially acting as the engine of every complete sentence. Without at least one verb, a sentence cannot convey a complete thought.
The Transformational Nature of Verbs
In English, verbs can take on different forms depending on several factors:
- Subject: This pertains to who or what is performing the action, and changes based on whether it’s first person (e.g., “I run”), second person (e.g., “You run”), or third person (e.g., “He/She/It runs”).
- Tense: Verbs indicate the time of action through tenses like past (e.g., “ran”), present (e.g., “run”), or future (e.g., “will run”).
- Mood: Different moods express the manner of the verb’s action or state of being, such as indicative for statements of fact, interrogative for questions, and imperative for commands.
- Voice: This refers to the relationship between the action expressed by the verb and its participants (e.g., active vs. passive).
All of these points are covered in later sections, so don’t worry! I’m just introducing them here so that you know that they exist, before we jump into them.
Types of Verbs
Here are the key categories of verbs that are essential to understand:
Regular Verbs:
- These verbs follow a straightforward pattern in forming their past tense by simply adding “-ed” (or just “-d” when the base form ends in “e”). For instance:
- Like → Liked
Irregular Verbs:
- These do not follow regular patterns, often with forms that must be memorized:
- Teach → Taught
Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs:
- Words like “be,” “do,” and “have” that work alongside main verbs to express nuances in tense, mood, and voice, or to construct negatives:
- E.g., “I am going,” “She does not want.”
Modal Verbs:
- These are auxiliary verbs that express necessity, possibility, permission, or ability without changing form:
- Can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would.
Phrasal Verbs:
- A combination of a verb with an adverb or a preposition that creates a new, distinct meaning:
- “Kick off” means “begin.”
Linking Verbs:
- Such as “is” or “become,” which connect the subject with additional information about it:
- “Max is excited.”
Conclusion
Understanding verbs goes far beyond remembering rules and conjugations. It involves an appreciation of how these words tap into the brain’s linguistic machinery, transforming abstract thoughts into discernible actions and states in our communication. I hope you learn to embrace the intricacies of verbs, and open the door to more vivid and articulate English expression!