The Verb

 

Objectives:

The main objective of this lecture is to make students familiar with the Verb (and its types) and Adverb (and its types) and create a better understanding of English grammar. This lecture will thoroughly observe the Verb, Adverb, and their types according to their formation and structure. After reading this they will be able to understand better about the Verb and Adverb. After learning this lecture, students will be able to make their own notes without any hesitation and elaborate their thoughts in smooth way and able to give their thought in more clear and vivid way.

The Verb

 

A verb is a word that tells or asserts something about a person or thing. Verb comes from the Latin, Verbum, a word. It is so called because it is the most important word in a sentence.

1. A Verb may tell us

(1)    What a person or thing does; as

(i) Ali laughs.                                    (ii) The clock strikes.

(2)    What is done to a person or thing; as

 

(i)                  Fahad is scolded.                      (ii) The window is broken.

 

(3)    What a person or thing is; as,

 

(i)                  The cat is dead                                          (ii) Glass is brittle              (iii) I feel sorry

Definition: --- A verb is a word used to tell or assert something about some person or thing.

A verb often consists of more than one words; as,

1.       The girls were singing.

2.       I have learnt my lesson.

3.       The watch has been found.

 

·        Types of Verbs ( according to action they performed)

There are different types of verbs in the English Language, but they can be broadly categorized into three major types or categories. These are:

·         Main Verbs

·         Linking Verbs

·         Auxiliary Verbs.

 Let us take a closer look at each of these two main divisions…

·         Main Verbs

These are the main or in a sentence and they can occur alone without the assistance of other types of verbs. They are also called ‘lexical’ verbs because they contain the actions in a sentence. In other words, they can occur as the ONLY verbal element in a sentence. Examples include:

(1)    He made a lot of money from the deal.

(2)    The President gave him a medal of courage.

(3)    Children sleep a lot.

(4)    They rested after walking a long distance.

 

·         Helping Verb/ Auxiliary verbs

These are verbs that are used in forming tenses, moods and voices of other verbs. They help the main verbs to function.

(1)    She is eating right now.

(2)    We are going to see them tomorrow.

(3)    He has been invited to the party.

 

·         Linking verb

A linking verb is a verb that connects the subject of a sentence to another word, or the predicate, in the same sentence to describe or identify it. Linking verbs do not express an action, rather a state of being or a condition. The word that the verb connects to is either a noun, pronoun or adjective. For example: I am cold. ‘Am’ is the linking verb in this sentence. It is used to express a state of being cold. ‘Cold’ is the noun predicate of the sentence ‘am’ is linking the subject, ‘I’ to. Some verbs can multitask and act as action verbs and linking verbs. For example: She feels cold. In this example, ‘feels’ is a linking verb. However, it can also be an action verb. For example: She feels the blanket.

 

2. Now read these sentences.

1.       The boy kicks the football.

2.       The boy laughs loudly.

In sentence 1, the action denoted by the verb kicks passes over from the doer or subject boy to some Object football. The verb kicks is, therefore, called a Transitive Verb (Transitive means Passing over)

In sentence 2, the action denoted by the verb laughs stops with the doer or subject boy and does not pass over to an Object. The Verb laugh is , therefore, called an Intransitive verb. (Intransitive means not passing over.)

·         Def; A Transitive Verb is a Verb that denotes an action which passes over from the doer or Subject to an Object.

·         Def;- An Intransitive Verb is a Verb that denotes an action which does not pass over to an Object, or which expresses a state or being ; as,

1.       He ran a long distance                          (Action)

2.       The baby sleeps                                      (state)

3.       There is a flaw in this diamond           (Being)

Most transitive verbs take a single object. But such Transitive verbs are give, ask, offer, promise, tell, etc., take two objects after them --- an indirect Object which denotes the person to whom something is given or for whom something is done, and a Direct Object which is usually the name of something, as,

1.       His father gave him (indirect) a watch (Direct).

2.       He told me (indirect) a secret (Direct).

Most verbs can be used both as Transitive and as Intransitive verbs. It is me therefore, better to say that a verb is used Transitively or Intransitively rather than that it is Transitive or Intransitive.

 

 

·        Active Passive Voice

1.       Ali helps Fahad.

2.       Fahad is helped by Ali.

It will be seen that these two sentences express the same meaning.

But in sentence 1, the form of the Verb shows that the person denoted by the subject, does something.

·         Ali (the person denoted by the subject) does something.

The Verb helps is said to be in the Active Voice.

In sentence 2, the form of the Verb shows that something is done to the person denoted by the Subject.

·         Something is done to Fahad (the person denoted by the subject.)

The verb helped is said to be in the Passive voice.

·         Def. A Verb is in the Passive Voice when its form shows ( as in sentence 2) that something is done to the person or thing denoted by the Subject.

The passive Voice is so called because the person or thing denoted by the Subject not active but passive that is m suffers or receives some action.

·         Def. Voice is that form of a Verb which shows whether what is denoted by the Subject does something or has something done to it.

Active Voice	Passive Voice
·         Sara loves Ahmed	·         Ahmed is loved by Sara.
·         This mason is building the wall	·         The wall is being built by the mason.
·         The peon opened the gate.	·         The gate was opened by the peon.
·         Some boys were helping the wounded man.	·         The wounded man was being helped by some boys.
·         He will finish the work in a fortnight.	·         The work will be finished by him a fortnight.
·         Who did this?	·         By whom was this done?
·         Why did you brother write such a letter?	·         Why was such a letter written by your brother

The passive voice is formed with the suitable tense of verb be followed by the past participle, study this table:

Tense ( or Modal base)	Active Voice	Passive Voice
·         Simple Present	·         Take ·         Takes	·         Am taken ·         Is taken ·         Are taken
·         Present Continuous	·         AM taking ·         Is taking ·         Are taking	·         Am being taken ·         Is being taken ·         Are being taken
·         Present perfect	·         Has taken ·         Have taken	·         Has been taken ·         Have been taken
·         Simple past	·         Took	·         Was taken ·         Were taken
·         Past continuous	·         Was taking ·         We’re taking	·         Was being taken ·         We’re being taken
·         Past perfect	·         Had taken	·         Had been taken
·         Simple future	·         Will take ·         Shall take	·         Will be taken ·         Shall be taken
·         Can/ may/ must, etc + base	·         Can take ·         Must take	·         Can be taken ·         Must be taken

 

 

Mood:

The simplest use of a Verb is to make a statement of fact or ask a question

1.       I write to my brother every week.

2.       Who wrote that letter?

But a Verb may also be used to express a command; as,

·         Write neatly.

Or a Verb may be used to express a mere supposition; as,

·         If I were you, I would not do it.

These different modes or manners in which a verb may be used to express an action are called Moods (lat. Modus, manner.)

·         Def;- Mood is the mode or manner in which the action denoted by the Verb is represented.

There are three Moods in English; -

Indicative, Imperative, Subjunctive

·         Indicative Mood:

The Indicative Mood is used:

(1)    To make statements of fact; as,

 

·         Rama goes to school daily.

·         We are taught English.

·         He writes legible.

·         Napoleon died at St. Helena.

·         The child is alive.

 

2. To ask a question; as,

·         Have you found your book?

·         Are you well?

In each of these sentences the Verb in italics is said to be in the Indicative Mood.

3.The indicative Mood is also used in expressing a supposition which is assumed as a fact; as,

·         If (= assuming as a fact that)  I am to be a beggar, it shall never make me as rascal.

·         If it rains, I shall stay at home. (Assuming as a fact that it will rain, etc.)

·         If my friend wants it, I shall give it to him, (Assuming as a fact that my friend wants it, etc.)

·         If he is the ring- leader, he deserves to be punished. (assuming as a fact that he is the ring-leader, etc.)

A Verb which makes a statement of fact or asks a question, or expresses a supposition which is assumed as a fact, is in The Indicative Mood.

Imperative Mood:

The Imperative Mood is used to express__

(1)    A Command; as,

·         Wait there.

·         Come here.

·         Open Your book at page 7.

 

(2)    An exhortation; as ,

·         Be steady

·         Take care of your health.

·         Try to do better.

(3)     An entreaty or prayer; as,

·         Have mercy upon us.

·         Give us this day our daily bread.

In each of these sentences the Verb in italic is said to be in the Imperative Mood.

A Verb which expresses a command, an exhortation, an entreaty or prayer, is in the Imperative Mood.

 

 

·        Subjunctive Mood

The Subjunctive Mood scarcely exists in present-day English. The present Subjunctive occurs

In certain traditional phrases, where it expresses a wish or hope; as,

·         God bless you!

·         God save the King!

·         Heaven help us!

The past Subjunctive is used

After the verb wish, to indicate a situation which is unreal or contrary to fact.

·         I wish I knew his name (= I am sorry I do not know his name.)

·         I wish I were a millionaire.

·         She wishes the care belonged to you.

After IF, to express improbability or unreality in the present; as ,

·         If I were you I should not od that (but I am not you, and never can be.)

·         If we started now we would be in time (but we cannot start now).

The infinitive;

·         I want to go.

·         They tried to find fault with us.

The forms to go and to find are “infinitives.”

Read the following sentences:

·         To err is human.

·         Birds love to sing.

·         To respect our parents is our duty.

·         He fused to obey the orders.

·         Many men desire to make money quickly.

The Gerund:

Read this sentence: --

·         Reading is his favorite pastime.

The word reading is formed from the Verb read, by adding ing

We also see that it is here used as the subject of a verb, and hence does the work of a Noun. It is, therefore, a Verb- Noun, and is called a Gerund.

Further examples of Gerund.

·         Playing cards is not allowed here.

·         I like reading poetry.

·         He is fond of hoarding money.

 

·         Def;- A Gerund is that form of the verb which ends in ing, and has the fore of Noun and a Verb.

 

 

Topic 2:    Adverb

 

Read the following sentences:

(1)    Wasif runs quickly.

(2)    This is a very sweet mango.

(3)    Sara reads quite clearly.

In sentence 1, quickly shows how (or in what manner) Wasif runs; that is . quickly modifies the Verb runs.

In sentence 2, very shows how much (or in what degree) the mango is sweet; that is , very modifies the Adjective sweet.

In sentence 3, quite shows how far ( or what extent). Sara reads clearly; that is quite modifies the Adverb clearly.

·         Def:- A word that modifies  the meaning of a verb, an adjective, or another Adverb is called an Adverb. The words quickly, very, and quite are, therefore, Adverb.

Kinds of Adverbs:

Adverbs may be divided into the following classes, according to their meaning

Adverb of time (which shows When)

·         I have heard this before.

·         We shall now begin to work.

·         I had a letter from him lately.

·         He comes here daily.

·         I have spoken to him already.

·         He once met me in Cairo; I Have not seen him since.

·         Mr. Dawood formerly lived here.

·         That day he arrived late.

·         He called here a few minutes ago.

Adverb of Frequency (which show how often)

·         I have told you twice.

·         He often makes mistakes.

·         The postman called again.

·         He frequently comes unprepared.

·         I have not seen him once

·         He seldom comes here.

·         He always tries to do his best.

 

 

Adverb of Place (which show where)

·         Stand here

·         Go there

·         The little lamb followed Saliha everywhere.

·         He looked up.

·         My brother is out

·         Come in

·         The horse galloped away.

 

Adverb of Manner (which show how or in what manner.)

·         Fatima reads clearly.

·         This story is well written.

·         Slowly and sadly we lost.

·         You should not do so.

·         The Muslims fought bravely.

·         The boy works hard.

·         I was agreeably disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

Adverb of Degree or Quantity (which shows how much, or in what degree or to what extend)

·         He was too careless.

·         Is that any better?

·         These mangoes are almost ripped.

·         I am so glad.

 

 

 

 

Adverb of Reason  (shows some cause)

·         He is hence unable to refute the charge

·         He therefore left school.

 

 

Conclusion:

In this section, we met the last of the working words, the adverb. We have learnt about the noun, the verb, the adjective, and now the adverb. We learned that adverbs come in a variety of kinds according to their meanings. This lecture will be helpful for those students who want to improve their grammar and develop better understanding of the grammar especially verb and Adverb.