Introduction
22 Jul 2020

What is Verb?

Definition – Verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and it forms the main part of the predicate of a sentence.

Verb is a word used to show the action and state.

Verb
Primary Verb ·       Finite Transitive Intransitive Linking Auxiliary or Helping ·       Non-Finite Participle Present Past Perfect Gerund Infinitive	Secondary Verb        Modals Can Could May Might Would Should Must Ought to Used to Need Dare

Finite Verb and Its Type

Finite Verb

• It depends on time and subject of a sentence.
• Its position in a sentence is fixed.

Note: A sentence can have any number of non-finite verbs but only one finite verb.

Example: Walking around the shopping mall I saw a few children talking, laughing and buying goods.

The above sentence has only one finite verb = Saw

Other non-finite verbs are = Walking, Talking, Laughing, Buying.

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Types of Finite verbs:

• Transitive
• Intransitive
• Linking
• Auxiliary or Helping Verb

Transitive Verbs

Transitive Verbs - are action verbs in which action is passed/transfer from subject to the object.

I.e. These verbs have Objects.

Example: Ram kicks the ball.

In the above sentence action is transfers from Ram to Ball. Here Kicks is the transitive verb.

Intransitive Verb

Intransitive Verb is an Action verb.

In this type there is no object.

Example: Sneha dances on the floor.

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Note: 'on the floor' in the above sentence is a Phrase. Do not confuse it with the Object.

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A single verb can be both Transitive and Intransitive - depending upon its uses.

Example: Rohan plays cricket. (Transitive)

Rohan has been playing all afternoon. (Intransitive)

Linking Verb

It is a verb that links a subject with its predicate.

Be verb (is, am, are, was, were), has, have, had, etc are some examples of linking verbs.

Example:

There is no food in the kitchen.

I have a car.

Helping Verbs and Rules of their usage

These are used for making tenses and interrogative sentences.

Do/does/did/will/shall + V1

Is/am/are/was/were/will be/shall be + V+ing

Has/have/had/will have/shall have + V3

Has been/have been/had been/ will have been/shall have been + V+ing

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Rules:

• If two helping verbs are connected by a conjunction and both demand different main verb then we provide it twice.

Example: Indian army has and will show its mettle to the enemies if need be. (x)

The above sentence is wrong as it has two helping verbs - ‘has’ and ‘will’, both require different main verbs – ‘shown’ and ‘show’ respectively. Therefore, to correct the sentence we have to provide both the main verbs.

Correct: Indian army has shown and will show its mettle to the enemies if need be.

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• If both helping verbs demands the same main verb we provide once.

Example: Virat Kohli may win and will win a test match for India in Australia. (x)

The above sentence has two helping verbs – may and will, both require the same main verb – win, but it is provided twice and therefore the above sentence is wrong. To correct it we need to provide the main verb only one.

Correct: Virat Kohli may and will win a test match for India in Australia.