Verb Terminology
There is a lot of grammatical terminology associated with verbs. Below are explanations of those used most frequently by grammarians. (There is a more comprehensive list in the Glossary of Terms.)
INFINITIVE FORM
When a verb is preceded by the word to, it is said to be in its infinitive form (i.e., most basic form).
I have to smoke that!
(to smoke - infinitive form of the verb)
PAST TENSE
Verbs which express actions in the past are said to be in the past tense.
He talked with more claret than clarity. (Susan Ertz)
(talked - past tense of the verb to talk)
I ran to the lake.
(ran - past tense of the verb to run)
They were all there.
(were - past tense of the verb to be)
PRESENT TENSE
Verbs which express present actions are said to be in the present tense.
John jumps out the window.
(jumps - present tense of the verb to jump)
Who is ill?
(is - present tense of the verb to be)
He is the kind of a guy who lights up a room just by flicking a switch.
(is - present tense of the verb to be)
(lights up - present tense of the verb to light up)
FUTURE TENSE
Verbs which express actions in the future are said to be in the future tense. These are usually formed by preceding the verb with the word will.
I will take the blame.
(will take - future tense of the verb to take)
They will surrender.
(will surrender - future tense of the verb to surrender)
Give me where to stand, and I will move the earth. (Archimedes, 287-212 BC)
(will move - future tense of the verb to move)
SUBJECT OF A VERB
The person or thing performing the action of the verb is said to be the subject of the verb or the subject of the sentence.
Tony stole the boat.
(Tony - subject of the verb to steal)
Tony is guilty.
(Tony - subject of the verb to be)
Who was that?
(Who - subject of the verb to be, i.e., was)
DIRECT OBJECT OF A VERB
Many verbs perform an action on something. This is called the direct object of the verb.
Terry kissed her hand.
(her hand - direct object of the verb to kiss)
Beverly will eat a whole chicken.
(a whole chicken - direct object of the verb to eat)
INTRANSITIVE VERBS
Some verbs cannot have a direct object. These verbs are said to be intransitive verbs.
The rain fell heavily.
(The rain fell, but it did not perform an action on anything. In this example, the verb to fall is an intransitive verb.)
Jack protested in the street.
(Jack protested, but he did not perform an action on anything. In this example, the verb to protest is an intransitive verb.)
Verbs that can have a direct object (most of them) are called transitive verbs.
Barney copied the answer.
(the answer - direct object of the transitive verb to copy)
INDIRECT OBJECT OF A VERB
Some verbs have two objects, a direct object (see above) and an indirect object. The indirect object is the person or thing for whom the action was performed.
Jamie read the children a story.
(a story - direct object; the children - indirect object)
I will bake him a cake.
(a cake - direct object; him - indirect object)
The postman gives Anne a letter every day.
(a letter - direct object; Anne - indirect object)
PASSIVE SENTENCE
The subject of a sentence does not always do the action of the verb. Sometimes, the action is done to the subject. Such sentences are called passive sentences because the subjects are being passive, i.e., not doing anything.
Carl was arrested.
(Carl is not doing anything, but he is the subject of the sentence.)
(Note: Carl is the subject of the verb to be, i.e., was.)
Passive verbs always comprise two parts (was arrested in this example). The person doing the action of the verb in a passive sentence is usually shown with the word by.
Carl was arrested by PC Adams.
Passive verbs are said to be in the passive voice. Passive sentences are quite useful:
The carpet was damaged. (< passive sentence - no blame)
We damaged the carpet. (< active sentence)
ACTIVE SENTENCE
Active sentences are the opposite to passive sentences (see above). In an active sentence, the subject of the verb performs the action.
We damaged the carpet.
(This is an active sentence. We is the subject.
We damaged the carpet.)
Jamie read a story.
(This is an active sentence. Jamie is the subject.
Jamie read a story.)
CONJUGATION OF VERBS
A verb will change its form a little depending on the subject. For example:
I write / He writes (< write and writes)
The camel laughs / The jackals laugh (< laughs and laugh)
When verbs change in this way, it is known as conjugation. A verb conjugates according to the subject. The subject of a verb can be in one of six forms:
1. I
2. You
3. He / She / It
4. We
5. You
6. They
The first three are the singular forms (known as first person singular, second person singular, and third person singular). The second three are the plural forms (known as first person plural, second person plural and third person plural).
All subjects fit in one of these categories. Camel is like he (i.e., third person singular) and jackals is like they (i.e., third person plural).
This topic rarely causes problems for native English speakers, who conjugate verbs correctly without much thought.
Interestingly, this is the origin of the insurance term third party (insurance for them).
PARTICIPLES
Participles are formed from verbs. There are two types: present participles and past participles. Present participles end ...ing. Past participles have various endings. Below is a table showing some participles: