Verb

Verb

A verb is an action word or a doing word because it expresses the action of the noun, pronoun or other words. Examples are: go, get, do, sit, take, come, write, tell, find etc It shows what physical or mental action people perform or what happens to them.
The verb is very important because without it in a sentence, It is not complete.

Types of Verbs

Verbs can be divided into many types depending on their forms and functions. They can be classified into the following groups.
• Base verbs
• Derived verbs
• Lexical or main verbs
• Helping or auxiliary verbs
• Finite verbs
• Infinite verbs
• Regular verbs
• Irregular verbs
• Linking verbs
• Non linking verbs
• Transitive verbs
• Intransitive verbs

Basic Verbs

The base forms of verbs are those forms of verbs which do not undergo any form of change in grammar. They form their past form by usually suffix “ed” to the verb. Examples are walk, jump etc.

Derived Verbs

The derived form of verbs are those Verbs which have undergo grammatical changes depending on the person, number and time.
Examples: Write is a base which you can derived another such as writes, writing, wrote, written. Also for the verb play you have plays, playing, played etc.

Lexical Verbs

A lexical verb is the type of a verb which makes a sentence to be meaningful. In other words, a lexical verb supplies the meaning needed in a sentence. A sentence which contains more than one verb, only one verb function as a lexical verb while others functions as auxiliary verbs.
All auxiliary verbs must undergo contraction while lexical does not.
Example
Peter is a boy = Noun, Main Verb, Article, Noun
Peter is going to school. = Noun, Auxiliary verb, Main Verb, Preposition, Noun
Besides, all main or lexical verbs do not undergo negative contraction except auxiliary verbs are used with them.

Auxiliary Verbs

These are helping verbs because they add more information to the main verbs.
Example
I can write it myself.
Auxiliary verb are classified into two main classes namely
• Primary or main auxiliary verbs
• Modal auxiliary
The primary or main auxiliary verbs are those auxiliaries which are used as main verbs and as auxiliary. The primary or main auxiliary verbs are of three types
(1) do (2) have (3) be

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

A modal auxiliary verbs are used in sentences to show the mood or feeling the speaker or a writing about what is written or spoken. The modal auxiliary verbs can be group into two types
(1) Non pairs (2) Pairs
Non pairs includes Used to, Must, Ought to, Dare, Need to etc.
Modal auxiliary verbs that are paired are divided into present and past.
Present. Past
Shall. Should
Can. Could
May. Might
Will. Would

Shall

Shall is a modal auxiliary verbs which can be used in different ways such as
(1) To express future occurrence or event.
(2) Shall is used to express possibility, probability or condition.
(3) Shall combines with perfective aspect to indicate an action which is to be finished in future.
(4) Shall is used to seek permission or make request.

Should

Should is the past tense form of shall. It is used in different ways in English sentences.
(1) To seek permission which shows a polite behavior.
Example
Should we talk to the man.
(2) To make suggestion which requires the opinion of others.
Example
Mathematics is a difficult subject, should we study it.
(3) It is combined with with the perfective aspect to show an action which is presumed to have ended, finished or accomplished.
I should have read the book.

Can

Can is an auxiliary verb in the present tense(time) which can be used in different ways to mean different things in English sentences. Can mainly means
(1) Possibility
(2) Ability
(3) Probability (condition)
Example:
I can write a letter.
If she likes she can come with us to party.
The constitution can be amended.

Could

Could is an auxiliary verb in the past tense which can be used in various ways. It is normally used to express polite request.
Example
Could you give me some sugar?
Could can also express an imaginary possibility in the past.
Example
It could be true that he is 18 years old.
Could combine with the perfective aspect to show an action which would have been ended or done in the past.
Example
I could have read the book.

Will

Will is modal auxiliary verb which can be used to express future event if it co-occurs with the present forms of lexical or main verbs.
Example
I will pass my examination next year.
I will travel to London.
In the above examples, the auxiliary verb “will” express strong determination with an additional promise to fulfil what it express.
Will can “Co- occur”(go with) the ” be” form of a verb to express only a promise.
Example
I will do my homework.

Would

Would is an auxiliary verb in the past tense. Nevertheless, would can be used in the present tense to show a polite anticipation/expectation. It is normally used in an official letter to show a polite anticipation/expectation.
Examples
I would be glad or happy if my letter is considered.
I would be happy if my letter is read.
Would as an auxiliary verb can be used with the perfective aspect “have” to show an action which would have been finished or accomplished in the past but it has not been finished or accomplished.
Example
I would have given her a book.

May

May is an auxiliary verb which is used in various ways such as
(1) To seek permission.
(2) To do something
Examples
May I come in?
May I go to school?
May is considered to be more polite and formal in seeking permission.
(3) It expresses possibility and it is often frequently in English sentences.
Example
It may rain latter in the day.
It is used to show or indicate suggestions which tends towards possibility.
Example
The first man had gone and you may be the second man to go home.

Might

Might is the past tense form of may. It can be used to ask for permission. It is not common to used “might” to seek permission because it is highly standard and highly formal than may.
Example
Might I come in please.
Might shows possibility which is believe to be stronger than may.
Examples
Up till now, the man has not come well, He might be held up in traffic jam.
It might rain latter in the day.

Must

Must is an auxiliary verb is is used in both positive and negative sentence to show compulsion of what should or what should not have been done.
Example
You must go to school
Must can also be used to show suggestion of opinion but not compulsion.
Example
I hope you must be stupid
Most usually co-occur with other various forms of verbs to show modality.
Example
I must go home after the lecture.
I must have read that book before.

Ought To

Ought to is a modal auxiliary verb which is used in any English sentences to suggest what should have been done.
Examples
I ought to go to school.
I ought not to go to school.

Dare

Dare is an auxiliary verb which function as ought to.

Need

Need is an auxiliary verb if it takes the word “to” Needs functions in a positive and negative sentences to show what is desire or require and what is not.
Examples
I need to write my note.
I need not to write my note.

Used To

Used to is a modal auxiliary verb which is used in English sentences to show habitual action.
Example
I am used to him.
Used to is also use to show present action which goes on continually.
Example
She is used to coming late to school.
Used to can be used to show an accomplish or past action which no longer takes place.
Example
I used to drink.

Finite Verbs

A finite verbs is a type of a verb which changes in shape and form depending on the changes in person( 1st, 2nd, 3rd), Numbers (Singular and Plural) and time of event( past and non past).
For instance, jump which is an infinite verb becomes a finite verbs. If “S” suffix is added to form the third person singular.
The cattle cross the roads.

Infinite Verbs

An infinite verbs is the type of a verb which does not change its shape or form no matter the changes in person (1st, 2nd, 3rd), Number (Singular and Plural), and Time (past and non past) An infinite verb are classified into verb infinity. Examples are jump, write, go etc

Dynamic Verbs

Dynamic verbs are those verbs which show the action performed by the subjects. They are regarded as lexical items.
Example:
John kill a goat

Static Verbs

These are verbs which do not show action in sentence but they described or state situation or effect.
Example:
John is a good boy.

Linking Verbs

This is a verb which link subject to the object.

Non Linking Verbs

This is a type of verbs that does not link the subject to the object.
Transitive Verbs
Intransitive Verbs
Regular Verbs
Irregular Verbs
Examples:
• The sun rises from the east.
• Peugeot cars are popular in Nigeria.
• It rains more in south.
• The sea blows cool breeze.

Verb Be

The be words am, is, are, was and were are used with active verbs that end in ing. It helps to show whether the action is happening or was happening earlier.
Example:
We are (feel)ing fine today.
I am (do)ing my assignment.
The boy is (try)ing to assist me.
Mary was actually cry(ing) like a baby.

Present Tense Verbs

A present Tense Verbs shows present action. Most Present Tense Verbs do not end in s when used with plural noun or plural pronoun such as he, she and it. Most Present Tense Verbs end in S when used with singular nouns or pronouns except I and you.
Example:
The sky looks bright this week.
Mr. Adebayo works with UAC Plc.
They produce gala and other snacks.
Nigeria celebrates her independence every 1 st of October.
We mark the day without fanfare.

A Present Tense Verbs does not end in S when used with plural noun or pronoun such as they and we.
Example:
• The man works hard everyday.
(Men) work hard everyday.
• She travels to Lagos by bus.
They travel to Lagos by bus.
• The girl likes flowers.
We like flowers.

Past Tense Verbs

A past tense verb shows an action that happened in the past. Most regular verbs add d or ed to become past. Other regular verbs follow these rules:
If a verb ends with a consonant preceded by a vowel, double the consonant and add ed
(e.g bag – bagged)
If a verb ends with a consonant y preceded by another consonant, change the y to I and add ed.
Example
Help: Helped
Wish: Wished
Bag: Bagged
Sip: Sipped

Irregular Past Tense Verbs

A past tense verbs shows an action that happened in the past. Irregular verbs change to past tense by changing some vowel letters in the word or the word.

Example

See – Saw
Teach – Taught
Example
The ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean.
Ayo rose to the level of Senior Prefect.
The boy wept for losing the election.
The engine spoilt on the way.

Present Perfect Tense

A present perfect tense shows that an action started sometimes in the past and has just been completed. The present perfect tense uses the verb to have, has and have plus a past participle verb.
Example
He has seen the man before.
Mariam has gone to the beach.
The children have torn the new dress.
The ship has sunk in the sea.
Kanu and Okocha have played for years.
I have gone to England.

Past Perfect Tense

A past perfect tense shows the actions follow each other in a natural or correct manner. A past perfect tense uses the verb to have; has with a simple past tense verb.
Example
I had stopped my work before he closed the library.
She has finished her paper at that time.
The boy had gone before the rain started.

Present Continuous Tense

A present continuous tense expresses action taking place at the time of speaking. A present continuous tense uses be verbs, am is and are plus an active verb that ends with ing.
Example
The president is traveling to Calabar
I am going to meet him at the airport
The governors are convening a seminar there
John is assisting on health matters.
The flight is departing at 10 pm.

Past Continuous Tense

A past continuous tense expresses an action that has taken place sometime in the past. A past continuous tense uses be verbs was, were plus an active verb that ends with-ing.
Example
Fred was working at the brewery.
The workers were recieving good salary.
I was studying at the college then.
Daddy was working at the post office.
Shade was writing her letters.

Future Tenses

A future tense expresses an action that will take place in the future. The auxiliary verb will or shall with the main verb forms a future tense. While shall is expressed in simple future tense, will expresses strong willingness, intention or determination to do something.
Example
It shall rain in June.
I will be there tomorrow.
She will bake the cake for Demola’s wedding.

Concord

This is an agreement between words in gender, number, case, person, or any other grammatical category which affects the forms of the words in a sentence.

Rules of Concord

It is important to note that:
1. Singular nouns and pronouns are usually followed by singular verbs.

2. Plural nouns and pronouns are usually followed by a plural verbs.
Examples
Singular Verbs: is/am, was, has
Plural Verbs: are, were, have
But care should be taken not to confuse the above with their present and past tense.
Examples:
Present Tense: is/am, are, has/have
Past Tense: was, were, had

3. Words such as: one of, each, each of, none, every, everyone, any, anybody, nobody, neither of, not one of, etc indicate that singular subjects and must be followed by singular verbs.
Examples
One of the ladies is talking.
Each of the girls has a box.
Each man was searched.
Everybody knows his house.

4. Two singular subjects separated by Either or, neither nor, takes a singular verbs.
Examples
Either Kayode or Biodun was in the class.
Either he or she is responsible for it.
Neither Ayomide nor Dorothy was in school
Note:
Subjects separated by Either (plural) or, neither (plural) nor, all …but, both…and, take a plural verb.
Examples
Either the parents or the teachers are to be blame for it.
Neither the boys nor the girls were afraid of the policeman
All but Uyi are in the room
Both Ivie and Uyi were happy to see me.

5. Singular subjects with attached phrases introduced by with, like, or as well as is usually followed by a singular verb.
Examples
The girl with her friends was at the party.
Bode like Olabode is clever.
My father as well as his boy has arrived.
Note:
When two singular subjects are connected by and, the verb following is in plural form.
Examples
He and She were great friends.
My father and his boy have arrived.

6. A subject that is a unit but has a plural form usually take a singular verb.
Examples:
The teacher and his wife are kind people.
Five hours is a long time to sit in class.
The times table for the examination is out.

7. When expressing condition contrary to facts, use “were” not “was”
Example
If I were you, I would leave early.