Verb - 1 | English Grammar Basic - Class 10 PDF Download

Introduction

• Verbs are an essential part of English grammar, forming the backbone of sentences by expressing actions, occurrences, or states of being. Understanding verbs is fundamental to mastering the language, as they provide information about what the subject of a sentence is doing or experiencing. In English, verbs are versatile and come in various forms, each serving different grammatical functions and conveying nuanced meanings.
• Verbs are integral to communication, enabling us to describe actions, events, or states precisely and dynamically. They are the words that bring sentences to life, making them active and meaningful. Whether in simple statements or complex sentences, verbs are crucial for conveying time (tense), mood, aspect, and voice. By studying verbs, learners gain insights into how English functions, from the construction of basic sentences to the expression of sophisticated ideas and emotions.

Verb

A Verb is a word that tells or asserts something about a person or thing. Verb comes from the Latin 'verbnum' meaning 'a word.'  
A verb may tell :

(i) What a person or thing does.
As,

• The man laughs.
• The car moves.
• Neena sings.

(ii) What is done to a person or thing.
As,

• The door is shut.
• The glass is broken.
• Ram is scolded.

(iii) What a person or thing is.
As,

• I feel sorry.
• Man is mortal.
• Robin is dead.

(iv) A verb  often consists of more than one word.
As,

• The boys were running.
• He has worked his sum.
• The purse has been found.
• I have done my duty.

The Various Types of Verbs with Examples

Verbs can be classified into various types based on their function and role in a sentence. Let's explore the different types of verbs with definitions and examples:

1. Auxiliary Verbs/Helping Verbs

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, assist the main verb in a sentence by extending its meaning. They are used to form different tenses, moods, and voices. When an auxiliary verb is used, there is always another verb, which is the main verb in the sentence.
Examples of Auxiliary Verbs:

• Am
• Is
• Are
• Was
• Were
• Have
• Has
• Do
• Will
• Can

Note: Auxiliary verbs need to be conjugated correctly according to the tense of the sentence. They can also function as main verbs. Modal verbs, which are a subset of auxiliary verbs, can also be used to assist other verbs.

2. Modal Verbs

Modal verbs indicate the possibility, probability, capability, or necessity of an action. Unlike other auxiliary verbs, modal verbs cannot function as the main verb in a sentence.
Examples of Modal Verbs:

• Can
• Could
• Will
• Would
• May
• Might
• Should
• Must
• Ought to

3. Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) that function as a single verb. They often have idiomatic meanings that differ from the meanings of the individual words.
Examples of Phrasal Verbs:

• Go by
• Lay off
• Log in
• Get off
• Run out
• Go all out
• Think through
• Fed up
• Taken aback
• Act on
• Back away
• Back up
• Look up
• Mix up
• Opt out
• Pop in

4. Linking Verbs

Linking verbs connect the subject of a sentence to a subject complement (which can be a noun, adjective, or prepositional phrase) and help to describe the subject. Common linking verbs include forms of the verb "to be" (am, is, are, was, were) and other verbs like "seem" and "become."
Examples and Explanations:

• Connecting Nouns to Other Nouns:
  • Danny is my brother.
  • In this sentence, the linking verb "is" connects the subject "Danny" to the noun "brother."
• Connecting a Noun to a Prepositional Phrase:
  • The children were in the park.
  • The linking verb "were" connects the subject "the children" to the prepositional phrase "in the park."
• Connecting a Noun/Subject to an Adjective:
  • Your presentation of the life cycle of the silkworm was excellent.
  • Here, the linking verb "was" connects the subject "Your presentation of the life cycle of the silkworm" to the adjective "excellent."
• Connecting the Subject/Noun to the Predicate using Seem/Become:
  • This book on a treasure hunt seems interesting.
  • The linking verb "seems" connects the subject "This book on a treasure hunt" to the adjective "interesting."
  • The students became bored after two continuous hours of classes and were not ready to take another hour of class without a break in between.
  • The linking verb "became" connects the subject "The students" to the predicate "bored after two continuous hours of classes and were not ready to take another hour of class without a break in between."

Different Categories of Verbs

Verbs can be categorized based on their behavior and usage in different contexts. Below are the main categories of verbs along with explanations and examples.

1. Regular Verbs and Irregular Verbs

Verbs can indicate actions in various tenses, and they can be regular or irregular based on how they form their past tense and past participle forms.

• Regular Verbs: These verbs form their past tense by adding "ed" to the base form.
• Irregular Verbs: These verbs do not follow a regular pattern and have unique past tense forms.

Examples:

• Regular Verbs:
  • Dileep searched for his white shirt in his cupboard, but he did not find it. (Root verb: search, Past form: searched)
  • Did you find the book you were looking for? (Root verb: look, Continuous form: looking)
• Irregular Verbs:
  • Selena read the book on the evolution of life on earth. (Root verb: read, Past form: read)
  • Vineeth found the keys that went missing yesterday. (Root verb: find, Past form: found)
  • In the examples, "searched" and "looking" demonstrate the regular verb forms, while "read" and "found" show the irregular verb forms.

2. Transitive Verbs and Intransitive Verbs

Verbs can be classified based on whether they require objects to complete their meaning.

• Transitive Verbs: These verbs require a direct object to complete their meaning. Some transitive verbs also take an indirect object.
• Intransitive Verbs: These verbs do not require a direct or indirect object.

Examples:

• Transitive Verbs:
  • Vincent gave a box of chocolates to his brother. (Indirect object: his brother, Direct object: a box of chocolates)
  • Garry passed the water bottle to Kevin, who was sitting in the first row. (Indirect object: Kevin, Direct object: the water bottle)
  • My mom cleaned the house today. (Direct object: the house)
  • Seena did not like the movie. (Direct object: the movie)
• Intransitive Verbs:
  • The little girl ran around the park for two hours.
  • Francey walked to school every day.
  • In the examples, "gave," "passed," "cleaned," and "did not like" are transitive verbs as they take objects. "Ran" and "walked" are intransitive verbs as they do not take any objects.

Ditransitive Verbs: These verbs take both a direct object and an indirect object.

• Example: He sent her a letter. (Indirect object: her, Direct object: a letter)