What is a Verb ?
What is a Verb ?
➤ A verb is one of the main parts of a sentence to shows action or state.
Examples:
We go to school.
He likes cat.
She becomes a teacher.
The Types of Verbs
1. Action Verbs 2. Non-Action Verbs 3. Linking Verbs 4. Auxiliary Verbs 5. Transitive Verbs 6. Intransitive Verbs
7. Phrasal Verbs 8.Verb Patterns
1. Action Verbs
➤ Action verbs (dynamic verbs) are words that express action.
Examples:
I study English at PTC KK every evening.
She is working at Phnom Penh.
He went to Phnom Penh yesterday.
2. Non-Action Verbs
➤ Non-action verbs (state verbs) are words that express possession, state, sense, desire or emotions.
There are six non-action verbs.
i. Emotion: (hate, like, love,...) ii. Mental: (know, understand, think,...) iii. Possession: (have, own, belong,...)
iv. Senses: (test, see, hear,...) v. Needs & preference: (need, want,...) vi. Measurement: (weigh, cost, contain,..)
Note: Non-action verbs is generally never used in progressive forms.
3. Linking Verbs
➤ Linking verbs do not show action. They link or establish a relationship between the subject and its subject complement.
Sound / look / seem / feel / became / was / appears / proved / taste / turn / smell / were / is
Examples: She was angry. / My friend looks so handsome.
Note: Some verbs function as either linking verbs or action verbs.
Examples:
I smell perfume. (Action verb)
It smells good. (Linking verb)
Pisey tests the ice cream. (Action verb)
This coffee tests bitter. (Linking verb)
Note: Normally linking verb can instead of verb 'to be'.
4. Auxiliary Verbs
➤ An auxiliary verb (special verb) is a verb which is used with main verb to express tenses or to form a negative or question.
➤ There three kinds of auxiliary verbs:
i. Primary auxiliary verbs: be, do, and have.
ii. Modal auxiliary verbs: can, could, may, might, will,...
iii. Semi-modal auxiliary verbs: dare, need, and used to...
i. Primary auxiliary verbs : The primary auxiliary verbs in English grammar are the verbs be, have, and do--all three of which can function as either main verbs or auxiliary verbs.
Examples:
What do you mean by that? (Primary auxi)
I do homework. (main verb)
Have you ever been there? (Primary auxi)
I have a good book. (main verb)
I am studying English nowadays. (Primary auxi)
I am a student. (main verb)
ii. Modal auxiliary verbs
A modal verb is always followed by verb base form which is expressed mood or attitude.
Example: I can speak English well.
➤ Here are some common modal verbs which are used in English.
Can / Could Will / Would Shall / Should May / Might / Must
Note: Modal auxiliary verbs are different with primary auxiliary because they have their own meaning.
iii. Semi-modal auxiliary verbs
Semi-modal auxiliary verbs are usually called semi-modal, and they are sometimes behave like modal auxiliary verbs, but usually they are used as a main verb in the sentence.
Examples: He need study English. Need you study English? (Semi-modal) He needs you. Do you need her? (main verb)
➤ Here are some common semi-modal which are used in English.: Dare Need Used to...
5. Transitive Verb : Transitive verb is a verb that requires an object to complete its meaning.
Example:
I study English.
I love my parents.
Note: we can know transitive verbs by ask the questions " Whom, or What" to know the answer and its answer is the object of transitive verbs.
6. Intransitive Verbs
➤ An transitive verb is a verb that does not need a direct object to complete its meaning.
Example: I go to study English at PTC KOH KONG every day. She runs very quickly.
Note: we can know transitive verbs by ask the questions" When, Where, Why, and How," that its answer is usually adverb to tell that it's not an object of the verb.
7. Phrasal Verbs
➤ A phrasal verb (Verb + Particle) is a group of words that functions as a verb and is made up of a verb and a preposition, an adverb, or both.
Example: Give up, knock down, look down, bring up, turn off,...
➤ Phrasal verbs can be divided into 4 groups:
i. Intransitive verbs ii. Transitive verbs iii. Inseparable verbs iv. Senseparable verbs
i. Intransitive verbs : These don't take an object
Example:
She always eats out.
He comes back home.
ii. Transitive verbs
Example:
He gave up the smoke two years a go.
She looks at me.
iii. Inseparable verbs : The object must come after the particle.
Example:
She runs into Mr. John at the supermarket.
He forces himself to drop out of school.
They called of the meeting.
iv. Separable verbs : Some separable verbs, the object must come between the verb and the particle With some separable verbs, the object can stand before or after the particle, though when a pronoun is used it comes before the particle:
Example:
Can you please turn the TV off.
Can you please turn off the TV.
Can you please turn it off. (correct)
Can you please turn off it. (incorrect)
8. Verb Patterns
➤ Verb pattern is pattern of the verbs and they have several types which are dependent upon the first verb such as:
Verb + to + verb
Verb + verb + ing
Verb + preposition + verb +ing
Verb + object + verb
Examples:
Verb + to + verb
Helen decided to go out with Michal.
I want to work with Dr. Laver.
Verb + verb + ing
I enjoy working with you.
She likes cooking.
Verb + preposition + verb +ing
Pisey thinks about studying English.
He specializes in teaching children.
Verb + object + verb
She made me cry.
The teacher lets his students read a lot of books.
Note: Verbs with two patterns and different meanings: Verb + preposition + verb, and verb + verb + ing.
Examples:
I'd like to eat Pizza. = Someone told me Pizza is delicious and I want to try it today.
I like eating Pizza. = Pizza is my favorite food.