01. Definition & Basic Kinds
A verb is a word used to tell or assert something about some person or thing.
- The girls were singing.
- The watch has been found.
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Transitive verb: denotes an action which passes over from the doer or agent to an object. Transitive means passing over.
Intransitive verb: denotes an action which does not pass over to an object, or expresses a state of an object/being. Intransitive means not passing over.
Rule When an intransitive verb is used in a causative sense, it becomes transitive.
- He sat in a chair.
- He sat me on chair.
Rule Verbs like, fall, lie, rise and sit are made transitive by a slight change in their spellings. The transitive is the causative of the corresponding intransitive verb.
The poachers were caught yesterday when they fell trees illegally.
The poachers were caught yesterday when they felled trees illegally.
02. Verbs of Incomplete Predication
The intransitive verb which requires something to make the sense complete is called a verb of incomplete predication. For example be, become, seem, grow, taste, appear.
That which is required to make the sense complete is known as the complement of the verb or the completion of the predicate.
Rule When the subjective complement is a noun (or a pronoun), it is in the same case as the subject, that is, in the nominative case.
- The lawyer called the witness a liar.
Rule When the objective complement is a noun it is in the objective case in agreement with the object.
03. Subject-Verb Agreement (Part I)
Language has its base in logic and harmony. The subject and the verb are the essential parts of a sentence. It is imperative that the verb agree with the subject in number and person.
Rule Two or more singular subjects connected by
and usually take a verb in the plural.
Computer and telecommunication has metamorphosed information technology.
Computer and telecommunication have metamorphosed information technology.
Rule If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular.
The poet and critic have been honoured.
The poet and critic has been honoured.
Rule If two subjects together express one idea, the verb is in the singular.
Bread and butter are essential for one's life.
Bread and butter is essential for one's life.
Rule If the singular subjects are preceded by
each or
every, the verb is usually singular.
Every man and woman in a family are responsible for the upbringing of a child.
Every man and woman in a family is responsible for the upbringing of a child.
04. Subject-Verb Agreement (Part II)
Rule Two or more singular subjects connected by
or,
nor,
either ... or,
neither ... nor take a verb in the singular.
Either Manoj or Madhukar have the key to this problem.
Either Manoj or Madhukar has the key to this problem.
Rule When the subjects, joined by
or or
nor are of different numbers, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject must be placed next to the verb.
Neither Rekha nor her friends was present at the party.
Neither Rekha nor her friends were present at the party.
Rule When the subjects, joined by
or or
nor are of different persons, the verb agrees in person with the one nearest to it.
Either she or I pays the fees.
Either she or I pay the fees.
Error of Proximity
The verb is made to agree in number with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject. This is wrong and should be avoided.
The behaviour of the students were not proper.
The behaviour of the students was not proper.
Rule Words joined to a singular subject by
with,
as well as, etc. are parenthetical. The verb should therefore be singular.
The guru as well as his disciples are committed to celibacy.
The guru as well as his disciples is committed to celibacy.
Rule Either, neither, each, everyone, many a must be followed by a singular verb.
Many a man have resigned in crisis.
Many a man has resigned in crisis.
Rule When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is generally singular.
Five hours are too short a time to judge one's character.
Five hours is too short a time to judge one's character.
05. The Infinitive (Noun-Like Uses)
Usually a verb is limited by the number and person of its subject.
- He plays cricket.
- They play cricket.
A verb, which is not limited by person and number as a verb that has a subject, is called the verb infinite or the infinitive.
Infinitives are of two kinds: (1) Simple Infinitive and (2) Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive.
(1) Simple Infinitive – used like a noun
- As the subject of a verb: To name is to give an identity.
- As the object of a verb: I have decided to leave the place.
- As the complement of a verb: Her hobby is to dance.
- As the object of a prescription/preposition: He is about to go.
- As the complement of the object: She heard her weep.
(2) Gerundial or Qualifying Infinitive – used to qualify
- a verb: He slept to refresh himself.
- an adjective: Tea is easy to prepare.
- a noun: He has a point to make.
- a sentence: To be very frank, I hate your smile.
06. The Infinitive (Special Syntax Rules)
Rule The infinitive is used without
to after verbs like help, watch, bid, dare, hear, let, make, need and see.
I bid him to quit the organisation.
I bid him quit the organisation.
Rule If the structure is
do + dare or
do + need, the infinitive is used with
to.
You do not need worry about us.
You do not need to worry about us.
Rule The following verbs are followed by the infinitive:
agree, arrange, attempt, care, cease, consent, decide, determine, endeavour, fall, forget, hesitate, hope, learn, manage, neglect, prepare, promise, propose, refuse, regret, remember, seem, swear, undertake.
I agree for helping you out in trouble.
I agree to help you out in trouble.
Rule Prepositions
but and
except take the infinitive without
to.
There is no alternative but to help him out.
There is no alternative but help him out.
Rule Expressions
would rather,
would sooner,
rather than,
sooner than,
had better are followed by infinitive without
to.
I would rather to go for batting.
I would rather go for batting.
07. Participle Architectures
Participles are evaluated across three systematic categories:
- Present Participle
- Past Participle
- Perfect Participle
Rule Present participle is used when all the parts of a sentence have the same subject.
Opened the drawer, he took out his gun.
Opening the drawer, he took out his gun.
Rule When a sentence has two different subjects, avoid using present participle. Use a clause instead.
While going to school, a dog jumped at me.
While I was going to school, a dog jumped at me.
Rule Some past participles are used only as adjectives and qualify a noun. They can be used as past participles with changed spellings. For example, shrunken, drunken, sunken, graven, molten.
He and his brother have drunken wine last night.
He and his brother have drunk wine last night.
Rule Perfect participle is used when one activity is completely over.
- Having worked hard, he felt tired.
08. Auxiliary System Metrics
Auxiliary literally means giving help, So an auxiliary verb is one that helps the main verb form in tenses, moods, voices etc. The following verbs are auxiliaries: is, are, am, was, were, be, can, could, dare, do, does, did, have, has, had, may, might, must, need, ought, shall, should, will, would, used to.
- May implies permission, doubt or possibility.
Ex. May I come in? (permission)
It may rain tonight. (possibility)
- Might is the past form of “may” and it implies more doubt than “may”.
Ex. If the clouds are salted, the rains might come.
- Can is used to express ability.
Ex. He can do the work.
- Could is the past form of can but it does not necessarily represent past time. Often it implies a more uncertain condition.
Ex. He could refuse, but she never does.
- Should expresses the idea that something must be done or is important.
Should and ought to have similar meanings, but ought is followed by “to”. “Ought to” has a more objective force and is used when we are talking about laws, duties and regulations.
Ex. We ought to see her tomorrow.
- Must is used to give strong advice or orders.
Ex. He really must stop drinking.
- Do is used to make question and negative forms of ordinary verbs.
Ex. Do you know him?
I don’t like swimming.
“Do” is always used in question-tags.
Ex. You know painting, do you?