VERBS

 verb is defined as “a word that expresses action or being.” Verbs that express
action are action verbs. Action verbs are the most common verbs
 Action verbs can be divided into two categories: transitive and intransitive.
The textbook definition of a transitive verb is “a verb that takes an object.”
What does that mean? If you can answer whom? or what? to the verb in a
sentence, then the verb is transitive.
I carried the injured boy to the waiting ambulance.
 Carried whom or what? Since boy answers that question, the verb carried is
transitive in that sentence.
 Exhausted after a hard day’s work, I sank into the sofa with great delight.
 Sank whom or what? Nothing in the sentence answers that, so the verb sank is
intransitive in that sentence.
 Knowing about transitive and intransitive verbs can help you with some easily
confused verbs, such as lie and lay, and sit and set. You’ll be able to see that
lie is intransitive (I lie down), lay is transitive (I lay the book on the table), sit
is intransitive (I’ll sit here for a while), and set is transitive (Kamau set the
vase on the table)
“Being” Verbs

 Granted, the action verb is easy to spot. But what in the world is meant by
the part of the definition that says a verb “expresses . . . being”? That usually
means that the word is a form of the verb be.
 Here are the forms of be (except for been and being, not one of them looks
like be):
am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been. These forms also include has been, should
have been, may be, and might be.
 I am sitting on the bench outside the students’ mess.
 (am is a present tense form of be always be preceded by the subject I in any
declarative sentence)
 Linking Verbs
 Just to complicate the situation, the words in the following list are sometimes
action verbs and sometimes linking verbs (also referred to as copulative
verbs).
 Appear, feel, look, remain, smell, stay, become, grow, etc.
He looks intelligent.
 Intelligent is an adjective in a predicative position. It tells you about the
person himself. You're making the assumption "He is intelligent" based on
observation. Here, the "look" is a copular verb
Major verb classes

 There are three basic types of verb in English: lexical verbs, auxiliary verbs
and modal verbs - can be divided into three major categories, according to
their function within the verb phrase.
 we distinguish the open class of FULL VERBS (or lexical verbs) such as jump,
leave, eat… from the closed classes of PRIMARY VERBS (BE, HAVE, and DO;
and of MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS (will, might, etc.)
 Of these three classes, the full verb can act only as main verbs , the modal
auxiliaries can act only as auxiliary verbs, and the primary verbs can act
either as main verbs or as auxiliary verbs.
Lexical verbs

 Lexical verbs can stand alone. They have meanings denoting actions, events and states,
and belong to an open class (i.e. new verbs are frequently created):
 They laughed.
 It rained all night.
 We had to catch a bus.
 Some lexical verbs such as appear, be, become, feel, get, look, remain, seem, smell,
sound, taste, which are followed by predicative complements, are called copular verbs:
 He is a teacher.
 That smells good.
Auxiliary verbs

 The auxiliary verbs are be, do and have. Auxiliary verbs add extra information
to the lexical verb.
 Auxiliary be is used to indicate progressive aspect and passive voice
 Auxiliary do is used in the creation of interrogative, negative and emphatic
structures.
 Auxiliary have is used to indicate perfect aspect
 Auxiliary verbs are usually followed by a lexical verb, but they may occur
without a lexical verb in reduced clauses (i.e. clauses with ellipsis). They may
also occur in clauses where do substitutes for a lexical verb:
 A: Are you hoping to get it finished today?
 B: Yes, we are.
 (ellipsis: Yes, we are hoping to get it finished today.)
 A: Will you ring the electrician?
 B: I already have done.
 (do as substitute verb: I already have rung the electrician.)
 Be, do and have can be used as auxiliary verbs or as lexical verbs. In these
examples of be, do and have as auxiliary verbs, the lexical verbs are in bolded
He was working over there.
What do they call them?
Have you been home?
I’ve been asked that question a number of times.
 Examples of be, do and have as lexical verbs:
That was a good meal. (also referred to as copular be)
He would need to do his exams before he went.
Can I have a receipt for it?
Modal verbs

 Modal verbs belong to a closed class of verbs whose core members are can,
could, may, might, shall, should, will, would and must, along with semi-
modals such as dare, need, ought to and used to.
 Modal verbs generally encode meanings connected with degrees of certainty
and degrees of necessity:
We could go upstairs and get one drink.
A: I’m sure one day you’ll go back to you village.
B: I might.
We ought to do something about that missing book.
 Modal verbs are usually followed by a lexical verb, but they may occur
without a lexical verb in clauses with ellipsis. They may also occur in clauses
where do substitutes for a lexical verb:
A: I’ll give her a ring.
B: Yes, you must.
(ellipsis: Yes, you must give her a ring.)
A: You know the Njoroges?
B: Well I should do.
(do as substitute verb: Well I should know them.)
The Principal Parts of Verbs

 The phrase “the principal parts of verbs” refers to basic forms that verbs can
take.
 In English there are four principal parts: the present infinitive (which you see
as the main entry in a dictionary) , the past tense, the past participle, and
the present participle.
 (Some literature includes the root form which is the most basic form when
uninflected)
Regular verbs: forms

 The present tense form is the same as the base form for all persons except third
person singular, which takes the -s form:
I/we/you/they look (present tense form) /People always look at me..
He/she/it/one looks / She looks at everyone
-infinitive (with or without to) I want to look.
 past tense form verb is added -ed
We looked for a taxi
 The past participle form - Add -ed to form the past participle.
I have looked everywhere.
 The present participle form – add –ing
I am looking for someone to accompany me
Irregular verbs

 Irregular verbs, like regular verbs, have a base form, an -s form and an -ing
form, but they vary in how the functions of the regular verb -ed form are
realized.
 Some irregular verbs have the same form for the base form and for all the
functions of the -ed form.
base form past tense -ed form Past participle
cut cut cut
set set set
shut shut shut
 Some irregular verbs have the same form for the base and -ed form as-ed
participle/adjective/non-tensed, but a different form for the -ed form as past
tense.
 come came come
 become became become
 run ran run
 Some irregular verbs have three different forms which correspond to the
functions of the base and the -ed forms of regular verbs.
 speak spoke spoken
 take took taken
 swim swam swum
 There are other variations too (look up at any good dictionary)
Be, have, do

 Be, have and do have irregular forms for the present tense:
 be
I am
you/we/they are
he/she/it/one is
Be also has irregular past tense forms:
I/he/she/it was
we/you/they were
 have
I/we/you/they have
he/she/it/one has
 do
I/we/you/they do
he/she/it/one does
 The base form functions as the present tense form for all persons and
numbers except the third person singular (which uses the -s form). (Modal
verbs do not show these contrasts of tense, person and number.)
 The base form functions as the infinitive (with or without to):
I hope to see you tomorrow.
 The base form is used for the imperative mood:
Sit here then.
 The base form also functions as the subjunctive mood for all persons,
including third person singular:
The doctor insisted that he go to the hospital for a series of tests.
THE -S FORM

 The -s form is used with third-person-singular subjects (he/she/it/one and

singular nouns) to indicate the present tense:
 He lives in King’ong’o.
 The coffee smells good.
THE -ING FORM

 The -ing form is used with auxiliary be to form progressive aspect:

I was doing some work for Omondi.
He’s looking well these days.
 The -ing form also occurs in non-finite clauses:
Getting no reply, she rang the bell again.
He stared at me, as if trying to make up his mind.
 The -ing form can also act as an adjective:
Falling processor prices means this is a good time to buy a new computer
 The -ing form functions as the gerund, which is a noun-like (nominal) form
which can occur as the head of a noun phrase or as the complement of a
preposition:
When I was a lad, I had to milk cows by hand. Now all milking is done by machines.
It was a good play, with some very good acting.
Thank you for coming.
You can get back to the car park by going up to the first floor.
 In its nominal function, the -ing form is frequent in noun compounds:
We need a new washing machine.
Where are my walking-boots?
THE -ED FORM

 The -ed form indicates the past tense:

I just phoned your place.
It looked a bit big.
 The -ed form functions as the -ed participle, which is used with auxiliary have
and be to form perfect aspect and passive voice:
I’ve broken my glasses. (perfect aspect)

I wasn’t offended by what she said. (passive voice)

 The -ed form also occurs in non-finite clauses:
Encouraged by our progress, we decided to go on.
Whenever asked, show all your documents.
 The -ed form is often used as an adjective:
Do you want fried rice or plain?
AUXILIARY VERBS

 Be
 Auxiliary be is used with the -ing form of a lexical verb to indicate progressive aspect and with
the -ed form of a lexical verb to indicate passive voice:
She was working in Karatina. (progressive aspect)
She was rushed to hospital last week. (passive voice)
 Do
 Auxiliary do is used with the base form of a lexical verb in negative,
interrogative and emphatic structures, and as a substitute for a lexical verb
or clause predicate:
I do not trust people who change so abruptly. (negative)
Did you see Sarah at school? (interrogative)
I’m a good complainer. I do complain a lot. (emphatic)
A: I cried.
B: Yes I did too. (substitute)
 Have
 Auxiliary have is used with the -ed participle to indicate perfect aspect:
We have looked down there.
They had already eaten when we got there.
Negative forms and auxiliary verbs

 Not is placed after the auxiliary verb to form the negative:

 Pupils were not turning up. (Pupils not were turning up.)
 I have not left the house.
 The contracted form of the negative (n’t) is very frequent in spoken language and is also
used in informal writing. In writing it is attached to the auxiliary verb, without a space:
 It hasn’t got any particular sort of name./ You weren’t here yesterday./ The locals don’t
mix that well with the students.
 When the contracted forms of be (’m, ’re and ’s) and the contracted forms of have (’ve,
’s and ’d) are used, n’t is not used:
 I’m not doing that one.
 (I’mn’t doing that one.)
 We’ve not abandoned you. (or: We haven’t abandoned you.
Interrogative forms and auxiliary verbs

 Interrogative structures involving auxiliary verbs consist of auxiliary + subject

+ lexical verb:
Are the children looking forward to it?
Has she finished her room now?
What did your mother do?
(What did do your mother?)
 Auxiliary verbs also occur in corresponding question tags:
Nafula has lost a lot of weight actually, hasn’t she?
You know what it’s like, don’t you?
Contracted forms of auxiliary verbs

 Auxiliary verbs have contracted forms which are widely used in spoken
language and in informal writing. The contracted forms are written with an
apostrophe (’) and without a space. The contracted forms are:
 be
I’m;We/you/they’re (are); He/she/it/one’s (is)
 Do
d’ you (do)
 have
I/we/they’ve (have); He/she/it/one’s (has); I/we/you/he/she/it/one/they’d (had)
Ellipsis and substitution with auxiliary
verbs
 Auxiliary verbs occur in clauses with ellipsis and in substitute clauses. The
contracted forms are not used:
 A: Are you looking forward to the New Year?
 B: Oh yes. Yes, I am.
 (B: Oh yes. Yes, I’m.)
MODAL VERBS

 The core modal verbs are can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would
and must. Core modal verbs are used with the base form of a lexical verb,
without to:
 Could I speak to Maureen please?
 (Could I to speak to Maureen please?)
 Core modal verbs are not preceded by the auxiliary verbs:
 Can you help me, please?
 (Do you can help me, please?)
 You mustn’t put it near a naked flame.
 (You don’t must put it near a naked flame.)
 Modal verbs may be followed by auxiliary be and have indicating aspect and
voice:
We could be waiting here for hours. Let’s go home. (progressive aspect)
I might have got killed. (perfect aspect)
These gates will be locked at 8pm. (passive voice)
 There are also semi-modal verbs such as dare, need, ought to and used to
Negative forms of modal verbs

 Not is placed after the modal verb to form the negative:

She could not shut her eyes to the daylight. / I would not wish to disagree.
 The contracted negative n’t is used in spoken language and in informal
writing with can, could, should, would, might and must, and with the semi-
modals ought, need and dare:
I couldn’t believe it. / He shouldn’t have been irritated by them./ I’m told I mustn’t
eat too quickly./ She needn’t worry if she can’t get back to me.
 The contracted negative forms of shall and will are shan’t and won’t:
I shan’t ask you again. / My white shirt probably won’t fit me
Interrogative forms of modal verbs

 Interrogative structures involving modal verbs consist of modal verb + subject

+ lexical verb:
Will you be at home Saturday morning?/ Can my friend come too?
 Auxiliary do is not used:
Can you tell me where the market is please?
(Do you can tell me where the market is please?)
 Modal verbs also occur in corresponding tags:
They will make it on time, won’t they?
He mustn’t shout like that, must he?
Contracted forms of modal verbs

 Will and would have contracted forms which are especially common in spoken
language and informal writing. Will and shall are frequently shortened to ’ll
in declarative clauses:
We’ll see what happens. (We will/shall see …)
Ellipsis and substitution with modal verbs

 Modal verbs occur in clauses with ellipsis. The contracted forms are not used
in ellipted clauses and clauses with substitute do:
A: We could get a video couldn’t we?
B: Yeah, we could.
A: So will you look after that for us?
B: I will.
(I’ll.)
A: But it might be worth just giving that number a ring.
B: Yeah, I will do.
(Yeah, I’ll do.)
Verbals

 Besides eight main parts of speech, there are three other parts— participles,
gerunds, and infinitives—called verbals.
 Verbals are hybrids that don’t act as verbs in a sentence, but as other parts of
speech.
Just let sleeping dogs lie.
 Sleeping consists of the verb sleep plus the ending –ing (present participle), and it
acts as an adjective in the sentence
 Like a present participle, a gerund is a word that begins with a verb and ends in –
ing. Unlike a participle, though, a gerund acts like a noun (that is, it names a
person, place, or thing) in a sentence.
Running up steep hills for the last six months has greatly increased my stamina.
Swimming is fun.
 An infinitive is composed of to plus a verb (e.g., to go, to carry, to drive).
Most of the time you will see infinitives used as nouns, but sometimes they
crop up as adjectives or adverbs.
To err is to human
THANKS