English Verbs (Part 2) - More Terms

This article reviews some more terms relating to English verbs. Being familiar with these terms will help you understand language points as they appear in the course of your English studies.

6. Most verbs are main verbs, i.e. content words that contribute meaning to the sentence they are in ( go, run, eat, prefer, ascertain). In addition, there is a closed class sub-group of auxiliary verbs that merely assist in the technical construction of other verb forms. The auxiliary verbs in English are: to be, to do, and to have. The modal verbs ( can, could, shall, should, may. might, must, will, and would) can also be considered auxiliaries as they modify the meaning of the main verb they accompany.

Dan is studying for a test at the moment.

[ is, form of be, auxiliary verb of progressive verbs, here of the main verb studying]

French has been studied at this school for the past 10 years.

[ has, form of have, auxiliary verb of perfect verbs, been, form of be, auxiliary verb of passive verbs, both are here of the main verb studied]

The weather forecaster will announce that it may rain tomorrow.

[ will, modal auxiliary verb of the main verb announce to form the “future simple tense”, may, modal auxiliary verb of the main verb rain, modifying it to denote the probability of the action]

7. Regular verbs in English add the ed ending to form both the simple past and the past participle forms, which are identical, such as in watch-watched-watched. Irregular verbs form their simple past and past participle forms with some other kind of change to the verb, such as a vowel change ( see-saw-seen), or do not change form at all ( put-put-put). See table in section 8 below.

8. In weak verbs, the simple past and past participle forms are identical, bearing a d or t ending. In strong verbs, the simple past and past participle are usually distinct, with the past participle having an (e)n ending. The classification of verbs to weak and strong in Modern English is less important for learners, so you can suffice with the regular-irregular distinction.

9. Dynamic verbs convey a sense of active change whereas stative verbs denote a static unchanging state. Stative verbs are not usually used in progressive verb tenses, which denote an on-going activity. The categories in the following tables will give you a good idea of these concepts.

Watch Out !

When stative verbs are used with progressive verb forms, they may change to dynamic verbs, sometimes with a very different meaning.

My friend has 3 cats and 2 dogs.

[ has (Present Simple form of have) as stative verb meaning possession]

She is having lunch with her husband today.

[ is having (Present Progressive form of have) as dynamic verb meaning to eat]

Don feels that the boss’s new plans are not conducive to the company’s progress.

[ feels (Present Simple form of feel) as stative verb meaning to hold an opinion]

He is not feeling so good today.

[ is not feeling (Present Progressive form of feel) as dynamic verb meaning physical bodily sensation]

10. Linking verbs are a sub-group of stative verbs that denote a state of being, connecting the subject with a complement, usually an adjective describing the subject (not the verb). Dynamic verbs, by contrast, are followed by adverbs modifying them, rather than by adjectives.

His new girlfriend looks really good.

[ looks (Present Simple form of look) as linking verb meaning to have the appearance of, as a state]

He has been frantically looking for his glasses all morning.

[ has been looking (Present Perfect Progressive form of look) as dynamic verb meaning to search for something, as an action]

11. Transitive verbs require at least a direct object to complete their meaning, while intransitive verbs do not require any objects. Some verbs are bi-transitive, meaning that they are followed by both a direct and indirect object. Transitive verbs followed by an indirect object usually require a preposition. Make sure to always learn such verbs together with the correct preposition. If you are not sure about the preposition, consult your dictionary.

12. Finite verb forms are those mentioned until now, namely, conjugated verbs that show person, number, tense, aspect, and voice. Finite verbs, as opposed to non-finite verbs, can function as the main verb of an independent clause. Non-finite verb forms, or verbals (infinitive, past participle, present participle, and gerunds by themselves) are not limited by the subject or the above categories, and serve as other parts of speech in the sentence (nouns, adjectives).

The children were talking to each other when the teacher came in.

[the present participle talking is part of the finite verb were talking, the main verb of the independent clause The children were talking]

The talking children made the teacher angry.

[the present participle talking is a non-finite verbal modifying the noun children and cannot be the main verb of this independent clause]

Talking is the children’s favorite pastime.

[ talking is here a gerund, a verbal noun functioning as the subject of the independent clause]

Grammar Guide Index

Grammar Rules

Grammar Exercises

Parts of Speech - General Overview

Singular and Plural Nouns

English Adjectives - Basic Terms