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Verb in English Grammar With Examples PDF
Verb in English Grammar With Examples PDF
Definition of Verb:
A verb is a part of speech which denotes the action of a subject or an agent and used
to tell something about a person or a thing.
Here the underlined word is a verb because the person ‘John’ performs an action i.e., ‘play’
1. My sister is an engineer
2. She is the pretty village girl
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1. He often visited his birthplace
2. She teaches in our school
1. He was punished
2. Joyee was taught a lesson
HERE IS AN INFOGRAPHIC
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Types of Verb:
There are seven types of verb and those are:
1. Finite verb
2. principal verb
3. Transitive verb
4. Intransitive verb
5. Auxiliary verb
6. Non-Finite verb
7. Infinite verb
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Finite Verb:
These are restricted or limited to the number and person of the subject.
For example,
1. I am in the blues
Principle Verb:
It carried the sense of the main action.
For example,
1. He wrote a poem
Transitive Verb:
They have an object with them. These are alone used in passivevoice.
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For example,
1. You killed a bird (Here killed is a Transitive verb and bird is the object)
Intransitive Verb:
They do not carry an object with them
For example:
Auxiliary Verb:
It is generally used with principle verbs and help them to form their tense, voice and mood,
therefore, these types of a verb are known as helping Verb.
For example,
1. You have done a good job (Here ‘have’ is used as aux(v) and done is used as a
principal verb.)
Primary auxiliary:
Be: Present- is/ am/ are Past- was/ were Future- Shall be / will be
For example,
1. I have a car.
2. I have done an excellent job.
Similarly, they are directly governed by the number and person of the subject
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Modal auxiliaries:
These are should, shall, will, would, may, might, used to, ought to need etc.
Features of modal auxiliaries are they are always used with principle verbs [External
Link] (except ‘Dare’ and ‘Need’)
And remain unchanged in their form according to the person and the number of the subject
(except ‘Have to’ and ‘Has to’)
Non-finite Verb:
These are not limited by the person and the number of any subject. They are used without
mentioning any subject.
1. Infinite
2. Gerund
3. Participle
For example:
Gerund:
A gerund is called a type or kind of verbal noun which has double force both of a verb and
an adjective.
For example,
Participle:
A participle [External Link] is called verbal adjective for it has the combined force both of
a verb and an adjective.
For example,
Infinite Verb:
It is formed with ‘to’ or without ‘to’ with the base form of the verb.
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For example,
1. To err is human
2. I saw him to go. (without ‘to’)
Rules of Verb:
Rule 1
If only one article on possessive pronoun is used before the first noun when there are two
nouns connected with ‘and’ it means that the two nouns are used for the same person or
thing and the verb becomes singular.
For example,
Rule 2
If two article or possessive pronouns are used for both the subjects the verb becomes plural
because it means that they are two different people.
For example,
Rule 3
If two subjects (Nouns) convey a singular concept, the verb becomes singular.
For example,
Rule 4
If two subjects are joined with- ‘with’, ‘together with’, ‘as well as’, ‘in addition to’, ‘along with’,
‘no less than’, the verb follows the first subject (S1).
For example,
1. The father (N1 S1) along with all his children (S2 N2) is going to see a movie.
2. The five brothers (S1) along with their old father (S2) are moving to the new house.
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Rule 5
If two subjects are joined with ‘either-or, neither-nor, or, not-only but-also’ the verb follows the
second subject (S2)
For example,
Rule 6
The verb after the relative pronoun follows the noun or pronoun just before the relative
pronoun.
For example,
Rule 7
‘None but’ and ‘nothing but’ always take singular verbs and the verb will follow ‘none’ or
‘nothing’.
For example,
Rule 8
When two singular nouns after to the same person denoted by one article.
In certain phrases or idiomatic pair of words suggesting the same meaning, though not
synonyms.
For example,
1. The collector and District Magistrate are on a visit to the Jhargram today. (used ‘is’
place of ‘are’)
2. What is the aim and object of his costly plan? (correct)
3. The sum and substance of the passage is given below. (correct)
4. Bread and butter are sold here. (correct)
5. Bread and butter are difficult to earn. (correct)
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Rule 9
Rule 10
When a plural noun conveys a singular concept, the verb becomes singular.
For example,
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A Must Watch Video on Verb:
Exercise on Verb:
Choose the most suitable alternative to make the sentence logical in sense
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a. Bound b. bounded c. binding
In the following examples, pick out the verbs, complements, and object
Conclusion
I hope you liked this lesson on Verb.
Also, I would love to see the answers of the above questions, and I will check and correct
those for you within 24 hours.
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