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A. Grammar 2.7: Problems with Verbs

WORLD ENGLISH INSTITUTE

ADVANCE ENGLISH BOOK TWO

Structure and Written Expression

Lesson Seven

PROBLEMS WITH VERBS

In Section II of the TOEFL, you will need to identify the correct verb. Many of the sentences in
Part A contain verb problems that you will be asked to solve.

There are three types of verbs: (1) transitive, (2) intransitive, and (3) linking. Let us review
briefly:

1. A transitive verb is a verb that needs a direct object to complete its meaning. Example:
"We need close relationships." "Relationships" receives the action and completes the
meaning of the verb "need."
2. An intransitive verb is a verb that does not need a direct object to complete its meaning.
Its action is complete in itself. Example: "Most of us would not survive spiritually without
help from others." A period could be inserted after "spiritually," and there would still be a
complete sentence. If you can put a period after the verb and have a complete sentence,
the verb is intransitive.
3. A linking verb is followed by a noun or an adjective which describes the subject's
condition or state of being. Examples: "Lon Hudspeth was a banker (noun)." "Most
professional basketball players are tall (adjective)."

Mood

The mood of a verb (indicative, imperative, subjunctive) is the manner in which the action of
the verb is expressed.

The indicative mood states a fact or asks a factual question. Examples: "Many people are lonely
most of the time." (That's a fact.) "In strong homes and in strong churches, people are always
building each other up." (That, too, is a fact.) These sentences deal with factual information.

The imperative mood expresses requests and commands and is used in the present tense only.
Examples: "Get out of the street"! "Please come again." Notice that "get" and "come" are present
tense verbs.

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, doubts, possibilities, and conditions that are
contrary to fact. Example: "I wish I were as strong and good looking as you are." Subjunctive
mood conditional sentences have two clauses: one dependent and one independent. The
dependent clause usually begins with "if." Example: "If Kevin were taller, he would be a great
basketball player." Notice the following rule:

70: In a subjunctive mood sentence, when the dependent clause begins with "as long as,"
"as soon as," "before," "unless," "until," "when," or "while," the verb in the clause is
present tense, while the verb in the independent clause is usually future tense. Examples:
"As long as we obey the law, we won't need to be afraid of police officers." "As soon as I change
clothes, I will be ready to go." "Before they call , I will answer, while they are yet speaking, I will
hear" Isaiah 65:24 RSV).

71. The mood of the verbs in a sentence should be consistent. That is, all the verbs in a
sentence should be in the same mood.

Wrong: "If I were you and was young again, I'd climb Mt. Hood."

Right: "If I were you and were young again, I'd climb Mt. Hood."

Voice

The voice of a verb indicates the relationship between the subject and the action expressed by
a verb.

The active voice indicates that the subject is doing the acting. Example: "Christians help one
another in their struggle with sin and Satan." The subject is "Christians," and the verb "help" is
in the active voice.

The passive voice indicates that the subject is being acted upon. "These containers of food and
medical supplies were transported to Albania by the U.S. government." In this sentence, the
subject "containers" is acted upon. Thus the verb is in the passive voice.

72: The voice of the verbs in a sentence should be consistent. That is, all the verbs in a
sentence should be in the same voice.

Wrong: "The scout master sat down with me, and I was taught how to tie knots." "Sat" is active
voice, and "was taught" is passive.

Right: "The scout master sat down with me and taught me how to tie knots." Both verbs are
now in the active voice.

Verb Tenses

The word "tense" means "time." Verb tense indicates the time at which the action of the verb
takes place.
73: The verb tenses in a sentence should be consistent. That is, all the verbs in a sentence
should be in the same tense unless there is a deliberate effort to contrast the time elements.

Wrong: "Today, Sea World rescued another baby whale that is sick with a virus." Note that the
verb tenses do not agree with each other.

Right: "Today, Sea World rescued another baby whale that was sick with a virus." Now, both
verbs are in the past tense.

Main Verbs and Helping Verbs

Main verbs tell the reader about the action being performed in the sentence. Helping verbs are
used to show the time of the action or to give meaning that cannot be expressed by the main
verb itself. In English, a helping verb always comes before the main verb.

74: When a helping verb is used, the main verb never takes the past tense form. The past
participle form of the main verb is used when it follows "had," "has," or "have."

Wrong: "We had saw Bopp-Hale Comet on television before looking for it in the sky." The verb
"saw" cannot be used after "had."

Right: We had seen Bopp-Hale Comet on television before looking for it in the sky."

Wrong: "Dorothy has drank five cups of coffee this morning."

Right: "Dorothy has drunk five cups of coffee this morning."

Wrong: "We have went to the grocery store three times this week."

Right: "We have gone to the grocery store three times this week."

Sample sentence in Part A: Choose the correct verb phrase.

11. "Many old growth forests _________ harvested."

(A) has been

(B) could been

(C) should been

(D) have been

Black out (D).

Sample sentence in Part B: What needs to be corrected?

1. "(A) On the bus, (B) Keith discovered that someone (C) had took (D) his wallet."

(A)

(B)

(C)
(D)

Black out (C). It should be "had taken."

Troublesome Verbs

Native English speakers, as well as international students, have difficulty distinguishing

between the verbs lie and lay, rise and raise, and sit and set. The solution to this problem lies in
remembering which verbs are transitive and which are intransitive.

Lie (meaning to repose or recline in a certain place) is an intransitive verb, that is, it does not
take an object. It is usually used with the preposition "down." Examples: "The kindergarten
teacher said to her students, 'Please lie down and take a nap.'" "They lay down for ten minutes
." "I have lain in bed all day." Lay" is past tense of lie, and lain is present perfect tense of lie.
(Do not confuse this verb with the lie which means to tell a falsehood.)

Lay (meaning to place something or someone on a surface) is a transitive verb, that is, it
requires an object. As a transitive verb, "lay" means to place something or someone on a
surface. Examples: "Don't lay your coat on the chair." "Susan laid her doll on the bed." "Today,
we have laid the facts on the table."

Rise is an intransitive verb which means to get up by one's own power, or to increase.
Examples:"The minister said, 'Please rise." (present tense) "The people rose." (past tense) "The
angel said, 'He is not here; he has risen." (present perfect tense)

Raise is a transitive verb which means to lift something up or to increase something.

Examples: "If you want to ask a question, just raise your hand.'" "Richard raised his hand." "You
have raised some interesting questions."

Note: The verb "raise" is used with reference to objects and animals, but not to people.
"Farmer Brown raises rabbits, chickens, and cattle, but he rears his children."

Sit is an intransitive verb meaning "to lower oneself on a seat." It is often used with the
preposition "down." Examples: "Let's sit down under this shade tree." (present tense) "We sat
down and ate our picnic lunch." (past tense) "Most students have sat through many lectures."
(present perfect tense) In these three sentences, we could have put a period after "sit," "sat,"
and "have sat" and still have had a complete thought in each case. These verbs do not take
objects.

Set is a transitive verb which means to put something or someone in a certain place. Examples:
"Just set the package on the table." "Maudine set her violets in the window yesterday." "You
have set a new record."

You have now learned seventy-four important rules of English grammar. Review these rules
again and again until they are planted deeply in your subconscious mind.

Now, after you have completed this lesson and have answered its question, study Lesson Seven
in the Advanced Reading Assignments, answer its questions, and move on to Advanced
Grammar 2, Lesson Eight.

Take exam

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