Definition: a class of words which Characteristics:

have finite and non-finite forms, and

normally vary for present and past
tense: have, take, look. A cover term
for lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs.
A verb is a word (run) or a phrase
(run out of) which expresses the
existence of a state (love, seem) or
the doing of an action (take, play).

Verbs
(MAIN
VERBS or LEXICAL VERBS or FULL
VERBS) function as a head of a NOUN
PHRASE, either alone or preceded by
one or more auxiliaries.

Uses

FORM-TYPES OF
VERBS

SOME TYPICAL VERB ENDINGS:

* -ate: translate, incorporate,
abbreviate, assassinate, demonstrate
*-en: sicken, happen, madden,
taughen, stregthen, listen
*-ify: magnify, clarify, beautify,
objectify, typify, amplify
*-ise, -ize: baptise, agonise,
popularise, legalize, summarize,
computarize

Spelling

Pronunciation

The base form is used

for:
Base Form-type: 1. The present tense
except for the third
The base form of
person singular (They
the verb is the
remain in good spirits);
uninflected form
2. The imperative
(remain, take,
write), the form ro (Remain here).
3. Present subjunctive (I
which inflections
recommended that he
are added
(remained, takes, remain here):
4. Infinitive, which may
writing), except
that for the highly be the bare infinitive
(you must remain here)
irregular verb BE
or the to-infinitive (I
the base form is
want you to remain
BE.
here)
-s form type:
the form of the
verb, ending in -s,
used for the 3rd
person singular
present

The -s form-type is
restricted to the third
person singular present
tense.
E.G.

*the regular spelling of

the -s inflection is s:
run/runs put/puts
revere/reveres
*If the base ends in a
sibilant sound that is not
followed by -e, add -es:
Buzz/buzzes;
pass/passes;
Catch/catches; fax/faxes;
rush/rushes.
*In few cases, there is a
variant in which the -s is
doubled before the
inflection: bus/buses or
busses
bias/biases or biasses
focus/focuses or
focusses
*Where sibilants are
followed by -e, inly -s is
added: force/forces;
grudge/grudges;
rise/rises.
*If the base ends in a
consonant + y; change
the y to I then add -es:
worry/worries
If a vowel precedes the
final y, the spelling is
regular: play/plays
*For some verbd ending
in -o, add -s.
*There are 2 irregular
forms: HAVE/HAS BE/IS

-ing Participle

The -ing is used in:

*PROGRESSIVE ASPECT,
following the auxiliary
BE. E.g:
He was shouting.
*-ING PARTICIPLE
CLAUSES, as the main

The inflection is spelled

-ing, which is added to
the base: pass/passing;
go/going; be/being.
*If the base ends in -e,
drop the -e before the
-ing

The -s inflection is
pronounced /iz/, /z/, or
/s/ depending on the
final sound of the base.

verb. E.g: Writing

letters is a chore
Past

The past is used for the

past tense.
-You mentioned that any
lamp should be excised.
*The past subjunctive is
WERE, and it can only be
distingued from the past
indicative when the
subject is I or the 3rd
person singular.
Example, If I were you,
I'd apply for the N.Y
position just for the
experience.

-ed Participle

The -ed participle is used

in:
*PERFECT ASPECT,
following the auxiliary
HAVE: He had eaten
when Mary arrived.
*PASSIVE VOICE,
following the auxiliary
BE. He was shouted at.
*-ed PARTICIPLE
CLAUSES, as the main
verb. Written in an
unknown script, the
inscription posed a
challenge to scholars