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Auxiliary Verbs
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Jump to: navigation, search Auxiliary (from the Latin auxilio = to help) verbs, also known as helping verbs, are verbs used to change the tense, mood and voice of other verbs. There are three auxiliary verbs: be, have and do. They are used before the main verb to make different tenses, negatives and questions. One or more auxiliary verbs can be used together. Different tenses are made thus: {auxiliary} + [auxiliary] + {main verb} She has been waiting for three hours. We had talked for over an hour. The only tenses where we do not use an auxiliary verb are the present simple and the past simple. Negative statements are made thus: {auxiliary} + {not} + [auxiliary] + {main verb}

They have not been to Hollywood yet. He is not living here anymore. To make questions we use this pattern: {auxiliary} + {subject} + [auxiliary] + {verb} Do you want a cup of tea? Has he been watching television? We can also use be, have and do as lexical verbs: I am English. They have thirteen cats in their house. She did it! Retrieved from "http://www.icalweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Auxiliary_Verbs" Categories: Grammar | Verbs
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Imperatives
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Jump to: navigation, search We use the Imperative form of the verb:

To give orders: Stop! Shut the door! To give instructions: Add a pinch of salt and boil for fifteen minutes. Go out the door and turn left. To make informal offers or invitations: Have a drink? Want a ride? To give warnings: Don't take lifts from strangers. Do try to take care!

Form
The form of the imperative is the same as the infinitive. To be polite, we add please to the end of the sentence: Shut the door, please. To tell someone we want something very much, we put please or do at the beginning: Do tell me! Please tell me! We can use the imperative as a subject of a sentence. We often follow it with and: {imperative} + {and} + {clause} Get this done and you can leave early. Complain again and we will leave. Some imperatives are joined by and: Come and sit here! Wait and see. In American English, go can be followed by the imperative without and:

Go get him. Go wait in the car. We can also join two imperatives: Be sure to do this... Be sure and do this... Retrieved from "http://www.icalweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Imperatives" Categories: Grammar | Verbs
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Lexical Verbs
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Jump to: navigation, search Lexical Verbs are verbs an open-class of verbs which are all verbs except auxiliary verbs. In other words, they tell of an action or state and can be added to with new verbs. Lexical is used to show that the verb has a vocabulary meaning rather than just functioning as part of the grammar. Simple tenses use only a lexical verb: {subject} + {lexical verb}

I run. I walked. Continuous or Perfect tenses use an auxiliary verb and a lexical verb. {subject} + {auxiliary verb } + {lexical verb} I had run. I was walking. In other words, a lexical verb can sit on its own but an auxiliary verb requires a lexical verb so it makes sense: * She will in the garden. She will sit in the garden. Retrieved from "http://www.icalweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Lexical_Verbs" Categories: Grammar | Verbs
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Participles
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A Participle is a verb form. In English there are two participles

Present Participle Past Participle

The Present Participle

The present participle ends in -ing

walking talking eating sleeping

We use the present particple to form the Continuous Tenses: He is sleeping. They were laughing. It can also be used as an adjective or a noun in some cases.

The Past Participle

The past participle usually ends in -ed

walked talked

Irregular verbs have different irregular formations

ate slept

The past particple is used to form the Perfect Tenses: He have walked these hills many times. He has slept for 18 hours! The past participle can sometimes be used as a noun. Retrieved from "http://www.icalweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Participles"

Categories: Grammar | Verbs

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Passive Verbs
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Jump to: navigation, search To make a verb passive, we use these patterns: Simple Tenses {be} + {past participle} active Eric kisses Amanda. passive Amanda is kissed by Eric.

active Eric kissed Amanda. passive Amanda was kissed by Eric. Continuous Tenses {be} + {being} + {past participle} active Eric is kissing Amanda. passive Amanda is being kissed by Eric. active Eric was kissing Amanda. passive Amanda was being kissed by Eric. Perfect Tenses: {have} + {been} + {past participle} active Eric has kissed Amanda. passive Amanda has been kissed by Eric. active Eric had kissed Amanda.

passive Amanda had been kissed by Eric. When we use auxiliary verbs, we add them to the front of the structures above: {modal/auxiliary/be going to} + {be} + {past participle} Amanda could be kissed by Eric. Amanda is going to be kissed by Eric. {modal/auxiliary/be going to} + {be} + {being} + {past participle} Amanda might be being kissed by Eric. {modal/auxiliary/be going to} + {have} + been} + {past participle} Amanda will have been kissed by Eric. Amanda ought to have been kissed by Eric. To make the passive infinitives: PRESENT active {to} + {infinitive} Someone ought to help him. passive {to} + {be} + {past participle} He ought to be helped. PAST active {to} + {have} + {past participle} Someone ought to have helped him. passive {to} + {have} + {been} + {past participle} He ought to have been helped. Sometimes you can use get instead of be to make the sentence a little more informal.

The phone box was vandalized last night. The phone box got vandalized last night. This is generally used in speech rather than writing. N.B. Not all active verbs can be turned into passive. Verbs which cannot be followed by objects cannot be used in the passive voice. These types of verbs are called intransitive verbs. Some intransitive verbs are: appear, arrive, come, cry, die, go, happen, occur, rain, sleep, stay, walk. These verbs cannot be used in the passive voice. Retrieved from "http://www.icalweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Passive_Verbs" Categories: Grammar | Verbs
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Timelines
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Jump to: navigation, search Timelines are a teaching aid we use to help explain how different tenses are used. They are a visual representation of the passage of time. This is an empty timeline:

Here, the timeline shows an event in the past (last night) and can be used to explain the Past Simple: Last night we ate curry.

For explaining continuous tenses, we tend to use a wiggly line: Next month he is making a film.

Timeline Activities
Life Timelines
An interesting activity for the classroom is getting the students to prepare a Life Timeline. Ideally the teacher should prepare their own timeline first as an example and to encourage the students with their timelines. This is an abbreviated version. It contains both serious and frivolous items.

There are different ways of exploiting this idea. 1) Students prepare their own timelines. They are all anonymous; the teacher collects them and hands out one at random to a student who reads it out: In 1984 this person went

to Spain; in 1988 they were living in Seoul; next year they are going to France on holiday, etc with the rest of the class trying to guess who it is. 2) Students interview and prepare timelines for each other. When were you born? When did you go to university? How long have you been married? When are you going to graduate?

Timeline Conversion
Using an timeline (historical ones are useful here) students can convert between them and written texts. For example, give the students a timeline of the highlights of space exploration. From this they must write a narrative based on that timeline: In 1957 Sputnik 1 was launched. It was the first man-made object in space... Alternatively, give the students a written text and ask them to read it for comprehension and then prepare a timeline based on the salient facts in that text. Retrieved from "http://www.icalweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Timelines" Categories: Grammar | Classroom Techniques | Verbs | TESL/TEFL
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Verb Patterns

From ICALwiki
Jump to: navigation, search When we join two verbs we use different patterns. Some of the more common patterns are: {verb} + {to} + {infinitive} I managed to leave. If you happen to see them, say 'Hello' for me. Verbs that follow this pattern include: afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, be, bear, beg, begin, care, choose, consent, dare, decide, determine, expect, fail, forget, happen, hate, have, help, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, like, love, manage, mean, need, neglect, offer, ought, plan, prefer, prepare, pretend, promise, propose, refuse, regret, remember, seem, start, swear, threaten, trouble, try, used, want, wish. {verb} + [object] + {to} + {infinitive} I would advise you to go. I want you to leave. Verbs that follow this pattern include: advise, allow, ask, bear, beg, cause, command, compel, encourage, expect, forbid, force, get, hate, help, instruct, intend, invite, leave, like, mean, need, oblige, order, permit, persuade, prefer, press, promise, recommend, request, remind, teach, tell, tempt, trouble, want, warn, wish. {verb} + [object] + {infinitive} I could feel him watch me. I made them leave. With the passive voice, we use the to + infinitive pattern: {passive verb} + {to} + {infinitive} He was made to feel unwelcome. They were seen to enter the building after dark. Verbs that follow this pattern include most (but not all) of the modal auxiliary verbs and verbs of senses: could, feel, hear, help, let, make, may, might, must, notice, see, shall, should, watch, will, would. {verb} + {gerund} I considered retiring. I enjoy running first thing in the morning. Verbs that follow this pattern include: admit, advise, appreciate, avoid, can't help, can't stand, consider, contemplate, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse,

face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, go on, imagine, involve, keep, leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practice, prefer, put off, resent, resist, risk, stop, suggest, understand. Some verbs can take either the gerund or the infinitive. I like skiing. I like to ski. There is very little difference between these two though, usually, the gerund refers to a general activity while the infinitive refers to a specific case. There are some important exceptions though: Remember to visit my mother. Remember visiting my mother? In this case, the gerund refers to what happened before the action expressed by the main verb and the infinitive what happened after the action expressed by main verb. Remember to visit my mother. = don't forget to vist my mother; you must remember now that you will visit my mother in a while. Remember visiting my mother? = you visited her in the past and now I am asking you to remember it. Verbs in this category include: advise, allow, attemp t, begin, can't bear, continue, forbid, forget, go on, hate, hear, intend, like, love, permit, prefer, propose, regret, remember, see, start, stop, try, watch. Retrieved from "http://www.icalweb.com/wiki/index.php?title=Verb_Patterns" Categories: Grammar | Verbs
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Transitive verbs First and foremost, a transitive verb is an action verb. Second, it requires a direct object to complete its meaning in the sentence. In other words, the action of the verb is transferred to the object directly. To determine whether a verb is transitive, ask whether the action is done to someone or something. Does the subject act upon someone or something? Or put another way, does someone or something receive the action of the verb. If it does, then the verb is transitive and the person or thing that receives its action is the direct object. In the following examples, the transitive verb is bold and the direct object is underlined.

The judge sentences the man to five years in prison.

o

The subject (the judge) applies an action (sentences) to a direct object (the man). The subject (the attorney) has transferred an action (revealed) to a direct object (news). The subject (the defendant) will transmit an action (could provide) to a direct object (an alibi).

The attorney has revealed the bad news.

o

The defendant could not provide an alibi.

o

The direct object can be found by asking a question about the action:

The subject did something to WHOM?

o o o o

Prosecutors charge people. The knife's sharp edge cut the chef. Law enforcement had previously convicted the man. Prosecutors charged him under a habitual offender statute.

Authorities are incarcerating repeat offenders.

The subject did something to WHAT?

o o o

The jury deliberated the case for 48 minutes. The technician made a joke. A local woman is seeking a seat on the city council.

Passive voice can hide a transitive verb because the subject is not in the sentence. Learning to identify the subject and object can help you avoid passive voice construction and help you identify a "hidden" transitive verb.

A man was given a sentence of 25 years to life under California's "three strikes and you're out" law for stealing a cell phone.
o

Presumably a judge sentenced the man; therefore, THE JUDGE is the subject, GAVE is the verb and the MAN is the object. It can be better written as:

A judge sentenced a man to 25 years to life under California's "three strikes and you're out" law for stealing a cell phone.

A substantial amount of the nation's street crime is committed by a small number of bad actors.
o

Here the subject is actually in the sentence and the power of the verb is weakened by passive voice construction.

It can be better written as:

A small number of actors commit a substantial amount of the nation's street crime.

A NUMBER is the subject, COMMIT is the verb and AMOUNT is the direct object.

Whether written in the passive voice or corrected for a stronger sentence, the verb is transitive. In the following sentences, identify the subject, the verb and the direct object. Click on the to check your skills

Jacob told the truth. Please deliver this package before noon. The embarrassed executive will offer his resignation. Demanding so much will give you a bad reputation.

To find out more about intransitive verbs, please turn the page.

This site is maintained by Kellee Weinhold

2000 Kellee Weinhold

Intransitive verbs An intransitive verb is an action verb, but it does not have a direct object. The action ends rather than being transferred to some person or object or is modified by an adverb or adverb phrase.. Typically, an adverb or prepositional phrase modifies an intransitive verb or the verb ends the sentence. To determine whether a verb is intransitive ask whether the action is done in some way, in some direction or to some degree. Does a noun receive the action of the verb? If it does, then the verb is transitive and the person or thing that receives its action is the direct object. [In the following examples, the intransitive verb is bold and the modifier is underlined.]

The man decided against a plea bargain.

o

The subject (the man) did something (decided) a particular way (against).

He refused because of his immaturity, not his lack of contrition.

o

The subject (He) did something (refused) for a particular reason (because of his immaturity). The subject (Alice) did something (complained) to a particular degree (bitterly). The subject (the index) did something (rose) in a particular direction (slightly). The subject (scholar) did something (paused) at a particular time (when faced with the problem). The subject (Earl) did something (fell) and the action did not transfer to someone or something.

Alice complained bitterly.

o

At the end of the Roaring '20s, the incarceration index rose slightly.
o

When faced with the problem, the scholar paused.

o

Earl fell.
o

The adverb or prepositional phrase answers a question about the verb:

The subject did something WHERE?

o o o o

If Charlie had run into the street, he could have been injured. The turtle may live in a small area of Arizona. In 1973, the incarceration number inched upward. Jordan drove into the lane.

The subject did something WHEN?

o o o o

Thousands of cranes will return in the spring. The number climbed in 1974 and in 1975. Walter Payton died near the end of the century. The company's leader collapsed during a meeting.

The subject did something HOW or TO WHAT DEGREE?

o o o o

The statistics come in any form you like. Politicians and the public are complaining loudly. His blood pressure kept climbing steadily. She worked with care and precision.

The subject did something WHY?

o o o o

Our elected officials listen because we vote. Shoshana's grades improved with the help of a tutor. Germany's expedition leader collapsed from the effort. Elise competed for her family.

To find out more about linking verbs, please turn the page.

This site is maintained by Kellee Weinhold

2000 Kellee Weinhold

Linking verbs A linking verb implies a state of being or condition for the subject, not an action. It links the subject to an equivalent word in the sentence. [In the following examples, the linking verb is bold and the predicate nominative or predicate adjective is underlined.]

The test indicates that Sarah is a genius.

o

The subject (SARAH) is linked to a noun that is, in a sense, standing in for her (GENIUS).

Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
o

The subject (TONI MORRISON) is linked to a noun that is of equal weight in terms of description. (WOMAN).

A linking verb may connect the subject with a noun:

Roads were a slushy mess on Monday along parts of the East Coast.

ROADS is linked to MESS, which is equal in terms of description. SMOKING is linked to CAUSE, which restates the subject. IT is linked to a noun DAY, which restates the subject.

Smoking appeared to be the cause of the blaze.

o

It was a sad day.

o

A linking verb may connect the subject with a pronoun:

The book could be his.

o

The subject (BOOK) is linked with the pronoun indicating its state of being (HIS). THAT is linked with HE, which is equal in terms of description.

The robbery victim pointed and yelled, "That is he."

o

A linking verb may connect the subject with an adjective:

The writer was proud of her efforts.

o

The subject (WRITER) is linked with her state of being (PROUD). MALIK is linked with NERVOUS, which is equal in terms of description.

Before the show, Malik seemed nervous.

o

Although the modifiers following linking verbs may answer the question what as a direct object does for a transitive verb, they do not receive any action.

In federal courts nowadays, every sentence is the same.

o

We can ask: Every sentence is what? and the answer is: THE SAME. But, the same is not receiving the action of the verb as with a transitive verb. SAME is restating or indicating the state of being of SENTENCE. INMATES are what? Answer: SUBPOPULATION. But, the SUBPOPULATION is not being acted upon; it is restating or indicating the state of being of the WOMEN.

Female inmates are the fastest-growing subpopulation in prison.

o

Typically, linking verbs are a form of the verb TO BE: IS, WAS, AM, ARE, WERE, BEEN [In the following examples, the linking verb is bold and the modifier is underlined.]

The crew's mission is to create the best topographic map of Earth.

o

The subject is MISSION. The linking verb is IS, and the descriptorin this case a predicate nominativeis TO CREATE. The subject is SOLUTION. The linking verb is WAS, and the descriptor in this case a predicate nominativeis JUDGES. The subject is I. The linking verb is AM, and the descriptorin this case a predicate nominativeis KING.

The solution was judges who would mete out longer prison sentences.
o

Leonardo said, "I am the king of the world."

o

The number of minor children with one or both parents behind bars is 1.5 million.
o

The subject is NUMBER. The linking verb is IS, and the descriptorin this case a predicate adjectiveis 1.5 MILLION. The subject is AMERICANS. The linking verb is WERE, and the descriptorin this case a predicate adjectiveis SAFE.

Law-abiding Americans were far less safe in 1980 than in 1960.

o

Some see this as a societal commitment to imprisonment on a scale that would have been unthinkable a quarter of a century ago in this, or any other, country.
o

The subject is THAT. The linking verb is WOULD HAVE BEEN, and the descriptorin this case a predicate adjectiveis UNTHINKABLE.

But the verb "to be" does not always mean a linking verb.

Forms of the verb TO BE can act as auxiliary verbs for transitive, intransitive and linking verb. The auxiliary verb is not linking but rather helping the main verb.
o

Juvenile crime has been plummeting since 1995.

auxiliary verb to the lexical verb plummeting (intransitive verb)

Nyoko was crossing a bridge when the earthquake hit.

auxiliary verb to the lexical verb crossing. (transitive verb)

Margaret Ann was feeling tired.

auxiliary verb to the lexical verb feeling. (linking verb)

The verb TO BE can act as an intransitive verb when what follows it indicates location rather than state of being. This intransitive form of the verb TO BE is easily identified by the prepositional phrase that follows it.
o

Changes in the criminal statutes are behind the staggering increase in the incarceration rate.

BEHIND signifies location, not state of being. Therefore, the verb is intransitive. IN A COMA indicates a location, not state of being. Although COMATOSE is a state of being, being IN A COMA is not. Therefore, the verb is intransitive. ON THE REFRIGERATOR indicates a location, not state of being. Therefore, the verb is intransitive.

Professor Freelove has been in a coma since the car accident.

Lucia's books are on the refrigerator.

The verb TO BE is not a linking verb when it acts as part of a verb presented in passive voice. It is part of a transitive verb.
o

When Clinton was elected president, some groups had high hopes he would champion their cause.

ELECTED is the main verb. It is weakened by the use of WAS and the failure to make a subject do the action, but WAS is not a linking verb. It is part of a transitive verb. COACHED is the main verb. It is weakened by the use of IS and by not making the champion coach Umberto. It is part of a transitive verb.

Umberto is coached by a former Olympic champion.

Other common linking verbs: APPEAR, BECOME, FEEL, GET, GROW, SIT, LOOK, PROVE, REMAIN, SEEM, SMELL, SOUND, TASTE, TURN.

Even with the nomination out of reach, he appears unwilling to concede.

o

Nothing is appearing as in: The ghost appeared from behind the piano. APPEARS simply links HE with his state of being, UNWILLING. There is no real action in BECAME. To test this, replace BECAME with the correct form of the verb TO BE: WERE. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged. The subject is not engaged in the action of feeling as in: He felt the wall looking for a light switch. FEELS links HE and his state of being: CERTAIN.

Liberals became indistinguishable from conservatives on the issue.

o

He feels certain that any mandatory minimum needs an escape clause.

o

"We got tough on crime," he said.

o

Once again GOT is not an action as in: He got the kite out of the tree. To test this, replace GOT with WERE. The sentence meaning is unchanged.

He grew discouraged with the number of low-level drug offenders doing 15- and 20-year stretches.
o

The subject is not engaged in the action of growing as in: She grew a garden. GREW links HE with his state of being DISCOURAGED. The subject is not engaged in the action of looking as in: The people looked through the hole in the fence. LOOK links WHO (people) and their state of being: SUSPICIOUS. There is no real action in PROVES. To test this, replace PROVES with the correct form of the verb TO BE: IS. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged. Nothing is happening either physically or intellectually. REMAINS simply links HE with his state of being: CONFUSED.

Proactive policing entails rousting people who look suspicious.

o

If an approach proves faulty, laws can be changed.

o

The chairman remains confused about how to vote on these policies.

o

In the current contentious climate, the political system seems locked in place.
o

There is no real action in SEEMS. To test this, replace SEEMS with the correct form of the verb TO BE: IS. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged.

If you leave that spoiled meat on the counter, the room will smell terrible.
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The subject is not engaged in the action of smelling as in: Allyson smelled the milk. SMELL links ROOM and a state of being: TERRIBLE.

For decades Democrats have sounded more concerned about criminals than victims.
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The subject is not engaged in the action of sounding as in: The sentry sounded the alarm. To test this, replace SOUNDED with the correct form of the verb TO BE: BEEN. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged. The subject is not engaged in the action of tasting as in: The child tasted the ice cream. To test this, replace TASTES with the correct form of the verb TO BE: IS. The sentence meaning is virtually unchanged.

Shari doesn't like anything that tastes spicy.

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Many verbs may be linking, transitive or intransitive depending on their function.

LINKING: The nation's mood turned sour.

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The subject is not engaged in an action. TURNED links MOOD and a state of being: SOUR. The subject was engaged in an action (TURNED) and that action transferred to an object (PAGES).

TRANSITIVE: The judge turned the pages quickly.

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INTRANSITIVE: The lawyer turned suddenly toward the back of the courtroom.
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The subject was engaged in an action (TURNED) and that action was done in a particular way (SUDDENLY) but not to someone or something.

To do a practice execrise for identifying verbs, please turn the page.

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