Words in Transition

A verb (V) expresses action (run, think) or a state of being (is, become, seem). A complete verb is composed of the main verb (MV) itself and any helping verbs (HV) that may be used with it. The most commonly used helping (auxiliary) verbs are the nine modals: may, might, shall, will, would, must, should, can, could. Modals express how the writer feels about an action. Modals express probability, necessity or obligation, or ability.

He may wash the dishes. [probability] [HV] [MV]

He should wash the dishes. [obligation] [HV] [MV]

He can wash the dishes. [ability] [HV] [MV]

Other helping verbs include the forms of have, be, do, used to, and ought to.

He is washing the dishes. [HV] [MV]

He did wash the dishes. [HV] [MV]

He used to wash the dishes. [HV] [MV]

Forms of verbs

All verbs have five forms, with the exception of be, which has eight forms. The first three of the five verb forms are called the principal parts of a verb.

1. Base Form or Infinitive	(to) talk/write	(to) be
2. Past Tense	I talked/wrote	was, were
3. Past Participle	I have talked/written	been
4. -s Form or Present Tense	He/she/it talks/writes	am, is, are
5. Present Participle	I am talking/writing	being

The infinitive is made up of to and the base form (to see, to believe).

Most verbs in English are regular (talk, talked, talked), but a few are irregular (write, wrote, written).

Intransitive, Transitive, and Linking Verbs

A verb can be intransitive, transitive, or linking, depending on whether it takes an object or complement and, if so, what kind.

An intransitive verb has a subject (S) but does not require an object or complement to complete its meaning.

Nobody cares. [S] [V]

Transitional Verb

A transitive verb, as its name indicates, transfers its action from the subject to the object of the sentence. Transitive verbs always take a direct object (DO) and sometimes an indirect object (IO) to complete their meaning.

The waves lashed the shore. [S] [V] [DO]

Maria gave her mother flowers. [S] [V] [IO] [DO]

Linking Verb

A linking verb (LV) connects the subject to a predicate noun (PN), which renames the subject, or a predicate adjective (PA), which describes the subject.

Carol Shields is a writer. [S] [LV] [PN]

The grapefruit is sour. [S] [LV] [PA]

Common Linking Verbs

be (is, am, are, was, were) act
appear
become
grow
look
seem
feel
taste

Verbals

Sometimes a verb does not function as a verb in a sentence. In this case, it is called a verbal. There are three types of verbals: gerunds, participles (both past and present), and infinitives. Verbals are usually used in phrases.

Gerund

Swimming is my favourite sport. [N]

Present Participle

Swimming out to the raft, he got a cramp. [ADJ]

Past Participle

His cramped leg still aches. [ADJ]

Infinitive

Bob is learning to swim. [N]