Key Notes: Verb | English Grammar Basic - Class 10 PDF Download

Verbs are an essential part of speech that convey actions, states or occurrences. In simple terms, verbs are words that describe what someone or something is doing.

For example, He cooks very delicious food.
The word “cooks” in the above sentence is a verb.1. Verbs are divided into two main classes - Principal and Auxiliary.

• The main verb, also called the principal verb refers to the important verbs that generally show the action or state of being of the subject. When a verb is used independently, it is called a Principal Verb.
  Example:
  → The skilled pilot had been navigating the turbulent skies for hours.
  → The artist's latest masterpiece appears to be a reflection of her innermost emotions and experiences.
  In the above sentences "navigating" and "appears" are the main verbs.
• When a verb is used only to help some other verb to form voices, moods and tenses, it is called an Auxiliary Verb. [Auxiliary means helping.] The only verbs that can be so used are - can, be, have, shall, will, may, do. The primary Auxiliary verbs are:
  Forms of to be: is, was, am, are, being, been, were.
  Forms of to have: has, had
  Forms of to-do: does, did
  Example:
  → The workers have been constructing the bridge for several months.
  → By the time we arrived, they had already finished the meeting. 

The classification of Verbs can be easily understood from the structure given below.

2. Modal Verbs: Modal verbs are a type of auxiliary (helping) verbs that are used to express ability, possibility, necessity, permission, or probability in a sentence.
Example: Can, Could, May, Should, Shall
→ The explorer might discover the elusive ancient artefact.
→  Henry will have acquired the skills necessary to design cars.

3. Transitive and Intransitive Verbs:

• Transitive verbs are verbs in which the action passes over or transfers from the doer to something or someone, usually called the object.
  Example: I (doer) write (transitive verb) an essay (object)
• Intransitive verbs are those in which the action stops with the doer and does not require an object.
  Example: He (doer) slept (intransitive verb)

4. Subject Verb Agreement:
→ A verb must always agree with its subject in person and number. If the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the subject must also be plural.
→ If two or more subjects are joined by "and", they require a plural verb.
→ If two subjects are joined by phrases like "in addition to", "as well as", "besides", "along with", etc., the verb agrees with the first subject.
→ If two subjects are joined by words like either-or and neither-nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
→ Uncountable nouns generally take a singular verb.
→ Usually, collective nouns take a singular verb unless it denotes each individual of which it is composed.
→ The words and phrases like 'each, each one, either, neither, every, everyone, everybody, nobody, anyone, etc. are followed by a singular verb.
→ In sentences beginning with 'here and there', the verb should follow the true subject of the sentence.
→ Use a singular verb with distances, periods, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
→ In imaginary sentences, a plural verb is used even with a singular subject.

5. Finite and Non Finite Verbs

• Finite Verbs: Finite verbs are used to indicate grammatical tense, person, and number. They are usually the main verb of a clause or sentence and can be changed according to the noun. Some examples of finite verbs include:
  She walks home.
  They are playing soccer.
• Non-Finite Verbs: Non-finite verbs, on the other hand, do not change their form when there is a change in the number or person of the subject. There are mainly three types of non-finite verbs: infinitives, gerunds, and participles. Some examples of non-finite verbs include:
  To walk
  Walking
  Walked
  
  (i) Infinitives: Infinitives are non-finite verbs that are formed by adding “to” before the base form of the verb. They can be used as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Infinitives can also be used after certain verbs, such as “want,” “need,” and “like,” to express purpose.
  Examples:
  To swim is my favorite activity.
  I want to learn how to play the guitar.
  She needs to finish her homework before going out.
  (ii) Gerunds: Gerunds are non-finite verbs that end in “-ing” and function as nouns in a sentence. They can be used as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Gerunds can also be used after certain verbs, such as “enjoy,” “avoid,” and “admit,” to express an action.
  Examples:
  Swimming is my favorite activity.
  I enjoy reading books.
  He admitted stealing the money.
  (iii) Participles: Participles are non-finite verbs that can function as adjectives in a sentence. There are two types of participles: present participles and past participles. Present participles end in “-ing” and past participles end in “-ed,” “-d,” or “-t.”
  Examples:
  The running water is so refreshing.
  The broken vase needs to be replaced.
  The excited children ran to the playground.