Verbs can literally be said to be the most important words in the English language. In fact, one can’t make a complete sentence without a verb.
In our previous articles, we said that a verb is a doing word or an action word. They are used to say what people do, expressing an action in a sentence.
For Example;
- The woodcutters sat on the bank. (What did he do?)
- She showed him an iron axe. (What did she do?)
- ‘That’s mine,’ said the happy hunter (What did he do?)
- The girls go to school every day. (What do they do?)
- The man opened the box
- The birds sing at my window every morning
- The boys ate all the rice
Sometimes, the verb appears in two parts;
For example;
- The hunter was shooting at the wolves. (What was he doing?)
- I have lost my axe. (What has he done?)
- I will give you the gold axe and the silver axe. (What will she do?)
On the other hand, very few verbs are different because they don’t express an action. They say people or things are something.
And the category of the verbs in this context is the verb “to be.” E.g., [am, is, was, were.]
These verbs “to be” often have an adjective after them.
For example;
- The woodman was (verb) sad (adjective)
- The hunter asked the woodman why he was (verb) unhappy (adjectives)
- The fairy said, ‘you are (verb) honest (adjective).
Verbs are simply the part of speech that makes sentences have meanings. They are words used as predicates, to say something to or about some person or thing. In giving a definition, we often consider a verb as one word.
Examples;
- I obeyed the law enforcement officers
Obeyed here is one word and it serves as a predicate.
- Someday it may be considered reasonable
May be considered here is a unit word doing the work of one predicate. And so on!
ALSO READ: Classes Of Noun In English Grammar – English Language’s Parts Of Speech
Verbs Subjects In Number
In English, the number of the verb follows the meaning rather than the form of its subject.
The singular form of Verbs
The singular form of the verb is used in the following conditions
1). When the subject has a singular form and a singular meaning
Examples;
- Such, then was the earliest American land
- He was certainly a happy fellow at this time
- He sees that it is better to live in peace.
2). When the subject is a collective noun that represents a number of persons or things taken as one unit’
Examples;
- Another religion professes entirely opposite principles
- The larger breed (of camels) is capable of transporting a weight of a thousand pounds
- Something like a horseload of books has been written to prove that it was the beauty who blew up the booby
3). When the subject consists of two or more singular nouns joined by “or” or “nor”.
Examples;
- Jesus is not dead, nor john, nor Paul, nor Mahomet.
- Neither James nor Michael is talented
The plural form of verbs
The plural form of the verb is used in the following conditions;
1). When the subject is plural in form and in meaning;
Examples;
- These logs of wood were covered on every square
- Far, far away thy children leave the land
- The Arabian poets were historians and moralists
2). When the subject is a collective noun in which the individuals of the collection are thought of;
Examples;
- A multitude go mad about it
- All our households are at rest
- A great number of people were collected at a station
- A party of workmen were removing the horses.
3). When the subject consists of several singulars connected by and, making up a plural subject;
Examples;
- Only Vice and Misery are abroad
- His clothes, shirt, and skin were all of the same colors.
- Aristotle and Socrates are better understood by him than by Littleton or Coke.
Before we proceed, take the quick exercises below to improve your understanding of the lessons above;
EXERCISE
1). Pick out the verbs expressing an action in the following sentences;
a). The boy ran away
b).The teacher gave us a lesson
c). They speak English
d). Henry wrote the letter.
2). Pick out the verbs in two parts in the following sentences
a). The girls are dancing
b). The boy will run a race tomorrow
c). The train has gone
d). The sun is shining.
3). Put suitable forms of the verb “to be” into the blank spaces
a). The hunter ——- very happy
b). The fairy said, ‘You ——- honest’
c). My dog —— very clever
d). I ——- glad that you
4). Put verbs, in two parts, into the blank spaces using was, am, are, has, were, have, had, will, together with another verb. E.g. ‘Have gone’
a). The woodcutter —— —— a tree
b). I —— ——- my work
c). Tom’s mother —— —— a good meal
d). The dog —— —— over the gate.
Classification Of Verbs According to Usage
In classifying verbs according to their usage, two forms of verbs are considered;
- Transitive Verbs &
- Intransitive Verbs
The nature of Transitive Verbs
By examining a few verbs, it may be seen that not all verbs are used alike. That is to say, “Not all verbs express action.” “Some denote state or condition.” And for those expressing an action, not all of them also do it in the same way.
Now, what is a transitive verb?
A transitive verb is the kind of verb which must have an object to complete its meaning and to receive the action expressed.
To understand the concept of transitive verbs better, we have to make an illustration with the paragraph below;
[“The proud lone took care to conceal the anguish she endured, and the pride of woman has a hypocrisy which can deceive the most penetrating, and shame the most astute.]
Examining the above paragraph, every one of the verbs in bold has one or more words before or after, representing something that it influences or controls.
In the first verb seen in the paragraph, lone took what? Answer; care. Endured what? Answer; anguish, etc.
Each of the verbs influences some objects, which may be a person, or a material thing, or an idea.
For instance; has, takes the object “hypocrisy”, can deceive has an object, “the most penetrating”; and shame also has the object, “the most astute.”
Hence, in each case as in the paragraph, the word following, or the object is necessary for the completion of the action expressed in the verb. Thus, all of them are called Transitive Verbs.
The Nature of Intransitive Verbs
Before we examine the nature of intransitive verbs in a sentence, let’s, first of all, know what intransitive verb talks about.
So what is an intransitive verb?
An intransitive verb is one that is complete in itself, or which is completed by other words without requiring an object.
Now to explain the concept of intransitive verbs better, let’s take a look at the paragraph below and examine the verbs in it;
[“She sprang up at that thought, and, taking the staff which always guided her steps, she hastened to the neighboring shrine, Isis. Till she had been under the guardianship of the kindly Greek, that staff had sufficed to conduct the poor blind girl from corner to corner of Pompeii.]
Examining the verbs in the paragraph above, there are some verbs unlike those that have been examined. Sprang, or sprang up expresses action, but it is complete in itself, does not affect an object; hastened is similar in use; had been expresses condition, or state of being, and can have no object; had sufficed means had been sufficient, and from its meaning cannot have an object.
Thus, such verbs in the paragraph above are the ones called intransitive verbs. There are complete in themselves or can be complete by other words without needing an object.
NOTE:
We have to be reminded that verbs can be either transitive or intransitive, according to their use in a sentence.
For instance;
The boy walked for two hours [transitive verb]
The boy walked the horse [intransitive verb]
The rains swelled the river [transitive verb]
The river swelled because of the rain [intransitive verb].
So based on the above example, it is important to observe that many verbs must be distinguished as transitive or intransitive by use, not by form.
That’s all you need to learn about the verbs for now on this page. Good lucks and stay with us for more updates!