VERBS

FINITE Can be joined by linking verbs and helping verbs Can be either transitive or intransitive Can indicate tense, word or voice.

Linking (copular verbs) Link a subject with a complement that describes or explains it. Linking verbs include sensory verbs (smell, hear, look, taste e.t.c), and verbs like be, appear, seem, remain, stay, prove, sound and turn.

Helping verbs Also known as auxiliary verbs Help to form certain sentences when combined with a main verb To be To do primary auxiliary verbs To have

Modal vebs (indicate modality) Combine with the base form of a main verb Suggest a condition such as a need, likelihood, requirement or permission. Such verbs include can, could, may, might, must, ought to, should, will and would.

Transivite verbs Express an action carried out on one or more objects. e.g. I made a cake (direct object) I wrote the Queen a letter indirect direct

Intransitive verbs Do not require an object to complete their meaning. They are complete in themselves. e.g. Ice melts in the sun My dog lay down on the floor

Verb phrase Is a compound verb Is a main verb plus helping verbs e.g. I can read The film has started

Phrasal verbs A two or three-word verb Consists of a main verb and preposition that is vital to the meaning of the verb. Do not use hyphen in a phrasal verb. e.g. Let’s turn on the light.

Non-finite verbs Also known as verbals Comprise infinitives, participles and gerunds Unlike finite verbs they can’t complete an independent clause or does their form change.

Participles Can be present or past tense Added to a helping verb to make a verb

Present participle Always ends in – ing. I am riding north tonight.

The past participle Often ends in -d or –ed. Can have an irregular ending. I have cooked dinner tonight. I have broken my curfew. Bored students need extra work to to do. A past participle can funtion as an adjective.

Gerund Always ends in –ing. Always fucntions as a noun. e.g. Boris loves dancing.

Infinitive Is often comprised of the marker ‘to’ and the main part of the verb. e.g. I want to breed show ponies.

Split infinitive In English the infinitive is two words, and so can be freely split, as in: To boldly go To gradually disperse.

Verbal Phrase Comprises a non-finite verb (a verbal) and the words modifying it. e.g. When examined carefully, the substance did not seem to be harmful.