Classes of Verb

It is the verb that forms the frame of an English

sentence. Just like the engine in a car, the verb is
the most important part of English grammar.
 Classes of Verb

1. Intransitive verbs,
2. Linking verbs,
3. Transitive verbs (vt.)
- Mono-transitive (having one object),
- Di-transitive (having two objects,
- Complex-transitive (having an object and a
complement).
 I. The Intransitive Type

The intransitive verb (vi.) does not take an object.

Ex:
• The ship sank. (The ship is the subject and sank is an intransitive verb. It is
SV.)
• All animals die. (All animals is the subject and die is an intransitive verb. It is
SV.)
An intransitive verb can be followed, most of the time, by a prepositional
phrase or an adverbial. It falls into the subject-verb-adverbial (SVA) pattern
besides SV.
Ex:
• He walks every morning. (He is the subject, walks is the intransitive verb,
and every morning is the adverbial of time. It is SVA.)

• The old man sleeps downstairs every day. (The old man is the subject,
sleeps is the intransitive verb, downstairs is the adverbial of place, and
every day is the adverbial of time. It is SVAA.)

• . He works hard. (He is the subject, works is an intransitive verb, and hard is
an adverb, which is used as the adverbial of manner. It is SVA.)
 II. The Linking Verb Type
A linking verb is a verb which is followed by a predicative to introduce
what the subject is or is like. It falls into the subject +verb + complement
(SVC) sentence structure.
The verb be is a typical linking verb which is usually followed
by a noun or noun phrases, pronouns , a gerund or
gerundial phrase, an infinitive or infinitive phrase,
participles (present participle or past participle used as
adjectives), adjectives , a numeral, an adverb (usually
denoting “place”) and prepositional phrases.
Ex:
• He is a teacher. (Is is a linking verb followed by a noun, a teacher. It is
SVC.)
• It was they that did it. (They is a pronoun used as complement. It is
SVC.)
• My hobby is collecting stamps. (Collecting stamps is a gerundial
phrase used as complement. It is SVC.)
• My job is to help you today. (To help you is the infinitive phrase used
as complement. It is SVC.)
• He is amazing. (Amazing is a present participle used as adjective. It is
SVC.)
• She is healthy/interesting. (Healthy and interesting are adjectives.)
• She was the first to arrive and the last to leave. (The first and the last
are numerals. It is SVC.)
• They are in the cafeteria. (The prepositional phrase, in the cafeteria,
is used as complement. It is SVC.)
 III. Transitive verbs (vt.)

III. Transitive Verbs Transitive verbs (vt.) are further divided into mono-transitive
(having one object - SVO), ditransitive (having two objects - SVOO) and complex-
Transitive Verbs Transitive
transitive (having an object verbs
and a (vt.) are further
complement divided into mono-transitive
- SVOC).
(having one object - SVO), ditransitive (having two objects - SVOO) and complex-
transitive (having an object and a complement - SVOC).

A. The Mono-transitive Type

The mono-transitive verbs must be transitive verbs and take

only one object; it falls into the pattern of SVO (subject + verb +
object), which may or may not necessarily be followed by one
or more adverbials (SVOA or SVOAA…) or complement (SVOC).
An object (O) can be a noun (personal or impersonal), a
pronoun, an infinitive, gerund, a noun clause.
Ex:
• We are studying English. (We is the subject, are studying is the verb (in
continuous tense), and English is the object. It is SVO.)
• He smokes cigarettes every day. (He is a pronoun used as the subject.
Smokes is a transitive verb and its object is cigarettes. Every day is an
adverbial of time. It is SVOA.)
• She speaks French very fluently every day. (She is the subject, speaks is
a transitive verb and French is an object. Very fluently are adverbs,
which is used an adverbial of manner. Every day is used as adverbial of
time. It is SVOAA.)
• He pushed the door ajar. (He is the subject, pushed is a transitive verb,
and its object is the door. Ajar is an adjective used as the object
complement. It is SVOC.)
 B. The Di-transitive Type

A certain class of transitive verbs (which falls into the pattern

of subject + verb + indirect object + direct object – SVOi Od)
can have two objects - a direct object (Od ), usually a thing or
B. The Di-transitive Type
something, and an indirect object (Oi ), usually a person or
something, the receiver of the said thing.
Some of them can be converted into the mono-
transitive type (SVO) with the aid of the
preposition to or for.
(a) Di-transitive convertible into the mono-transitive type with
the aid of the preposition to, denoting the act or action to
whom the subject wants to do.
Ex:
• Has he paid you the money? (He is the subject, Has …paid (present perfect
tense) is the verb, you is the indirect object and the money is the direct
object. It is SVOiOd.)

• Has he paid the money to you? ( He is the subject, Has …paid is the verb,
the money is the object and to you is not the indirect object any more, but
it becomes the adverbial which is formed by a prepositional phrase to you.
It is SVOdA.)
(b) Di-transitive convertible into the mono-transitive type with
the aid of the preposition for, denoting the act or action for
whom the subject does.
Examples:
1. His father has chosen him a very good book. (His father is the
subject, has chosen is the verb form with present perfect tense, him is the
indirect object, and the whole noun phrase, a very good book, is the direct
object. It is SVOi Od .)

2. His father has chosen a very good book for him. (His father is the
subject, has chosen is the verb form with present perfect tense, a very
good book is the object and for him is no longer the indirect object. It
becomes the adverbial formed by the prepositional phrase for him. It is
SVOA.)
(c) Di-transitive verbs that are not very well converted into the mono-
transitive type.
Examples:
1. I asked him several questions. (I is the subject, asked is the
verb, him is the indirect object and several questions is the direct
object. It is SVOi Od.)
2. I struck the door a heavy blow. (SVOO)
 C. The Complex Transitive Type

The complex transitive verb has a complement to its object. It falls into the
pattern of SVOC (subject + verb + object + complement).

The complement is something added to the object to complete

the predication of the verb. It may be also followed by one or
more adverbials (of time, place, manner, etc.). It will become
SVOCA pattern. The object stands in relation to its complement
in the combination just as a subject would in relation to its
predicate
(a)Verbs with a noun or noun equivalent complement. The
italics in each sentence below is the complement of each
object.

Examples:

1. They appointed him to be manager. (SVOC)

2. They appointed Mr. Roser as manager of the bank. (SVOC)
 Summary of Formula

Intransitive verb Linking Verb

-SV -SVC
-SVA
-SVAA
Transitive Verb
A. Mono-transitive Di-transitive Verb
-SVO -SVOiOd
- SVOA -SVOdA
-SVOAA
-SVOC
 Summary of Formula

Complex-transitive Verb
-SVOC
 Action verb

Action verbs describe actions that someone can do or

demonstrate. Most verbs are action verbs. Typically,
action verbs follow nouns or pronouns in a sentence.

Examples of action verbs include:

Naomi accepted the job offer.
We baked a carrot cake.
She ironed her dress.
Mark drinks vanilla lattes.
 Stative Verb

Stative verbs describe a position or state of being that

you can’t see, but exists anyway. While they don't
perform any visible action, notice that they're typically
followed by a direct object.

You deserve a prize.

Jane hates humidity.
Henry loves billiards.
I remember you
 Irregular Verb

Verbs that change form in the past tense are irregular

verbs.

I spoke to my neighbor. (speak becomes spoke)

We saw the new action movie last night. (see becomes
saw)
The community felt nervous. (feel becomes felt)
Nora made a beautiful speech at the wedding. (make
becomes made
 Regular Verbs

Most verbs are regular verbs — verbs that only add -d

or -ed in their past tense form.

We walked to the concert. (walk becomes walked)

Pauly lied to his friends. (lie becomes lied)
The kids performed in the school play. (perform
becomes performed)
I smelled smoke in the hallway. (smell becomes
smelled)
 Auxiliary Verb

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, help the

main verb of the sentence (known as a participle) by
extending its meaning. You’ll see them in verb phrases
where one verb doesn’t form a complete thought, or in
perfect verb tenses.

I have been there before.

Paul doesn’t know his way home.
He didn’t run for president.
The dogs are playing in the yard
 Modal Verb

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that show possibility or

necessity. They always accompany other action verbs.

We will find the perfect pumpkin.

Tiffany might want another helping of pie.
I must finish this project tonight.
The whole team should be there.
 Compound Verbs

Just like compound nouns combine two words to create

a new noun, compound verbs combine two words to
create a new verb.

Compound verbs can be one or two words long, or they

can be hyphenated.
Don’t overstay your welcome.
Can you babysit my kids tonight?
Be sure to waterproof your new shoes.
I color-coded my whole file cabinet
 Phrasal Verb

Phrasal verbs are a type of compound verb that end

with a preposition.

My girlfriend just broke up with me.

Don’t give up on your dreams.
The kids get along so well
Thank you and
God Bless!