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Daniel Kies Department of English College of DuPage |
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| Modern English
Grammar English 2126 |
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The Verb
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Log in? | Privacy | Change Name & EmailThe function of verb is the least ambiguous in English since only one category (the verb phrase) fills this function. Nonetheless, the verb is recognizable by a combination of formal and functional properties. These are form, position, agreement, tense, aspect, and voice.
Form. The verb is composed of a main verb with or without auxiliaries.
Frank reads (V) quickly.
Frank must have been reading (V) quickly.
Position. The verb usually occurs after the subject in the indicative mood, around the subject in the interrogative mood, and at the beginning of the clause in the imperative mood.
Sandy fell (V) asleep. [indicative mood]
Did I win (V)? [interrogative mood]
Go (V) home! [imperative mood]
Agreement. The verb corresponds in number (singular or plural) with the subject in finite clauses.
Liz (S) works (V) hard. [singular, third person]
Emily and Liz (S) work (V) hard. [plural]
Tense. The verb of a finite clause is marked for tense (present or past).
Mike likes (V) Nintendo. [present]
Mike liked (V) Nintendo. [past]
Modality. The verb can be marked as predicating something other than simple fact (modal).
Paul might do (V) it. [modal]
Paul ought to do (V) it. [semi-modal]
Aspect. The verb can be marked as completing or continuing the process indicated by the main verb (perfect and/or progressive).
Paul has done (V) it. [perfect]
Paul is doing (V) it. [progressive]
Paul has been doing (V) it for a long time. [perfect and progressive]
Voice. The verb is marked for voice (active or passive).
Emily likes (V) Liz. [active voice]
Liz is liked (V) by Emily. [passive voice]
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