This document discusses parts of speech, focusing on verbs. It defines verbs as words that show actions or states of being. There are two main types of verbs: action verbs that show actions and state verbs or linking verbs that show states of being. The document also discusses the roles verbs can play in sentences, including as finite verbs, non-finite verbs like gerunds and infinitives, and helping verbs.

1. Parts of Speech
Verbs
Sam An Teng
January 2014
Copyright © All rights reserved.

2. What is Verbs?
• Verbs are the words that tell actions or states of being.
For examples,
– I read a book. [ "read" shows the action. ]
– They are playing football. [ "are playing" shows action.]
– He looks happy. ["look" shows state of being happy. ]
– Mary is beautiful. [ "Mary" shows state of being beautiful]

3. Kinds of Verbs
• There are two main types of verbs: action verbs (verbs that
show the actions), state verbs (verbs that shows state of being
or link subject and predicate).
[1] Actions verbs
• Action verbs, also called dynamic verbs, show actions or
performance of actions such as hit, walk, explode, write, fight,
teach, run, …
For examples,
– He walks to school everyday.
– She eats ice cream.

4. Kinds of Verbs
• [2] State verbs
• State verbs, also called linking verbs, show state of being
rather than actions. They show the state of
being, emotion, the senses, thoughts, measurement, and
possession; as,, be*, equal, exist, look*, look
like*, resemble, seem, sound, appreciate, amaze, astonish, car
e, dislike, envy, fear, hate, like, love, mind, please, prefer,, hear
, see* , smell*
, taste*, believe, desire, know, remember, cost*…
• For examples,
– He looks tired.
– They own a house.

5. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
Verbs can be divided according to the job they do in a sentence;
therefore, they are classified as:
• Finite verbs,
• Infinite verbs, and
• Helping verbs.

6. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
[1] Finite verbs
• Finite verb is a verb form that distinguishes person, number,
and tense, and also mood or voice. The finite verbs could be
transitive, intransitive, or linking verbs.
Transitive verbs
• Transitive verb is the verbs that needs object, like eat, write,
drink, phone....
• For examples,
– He wrote a letter.
– She does her homework.

7. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
[1] Finite verbs
Intransitive verbs
• Transitive verb is the verbs that does not need object, like
smile, run, laugh, cry….
For examples,
– The baby smiled at us.
– He runs so quick.
Linking verbs
• Linking verbs (also called copula verbs or state verbs) are
verbs that do not show action. They link the subjects to the
complement. (Please see the state verbs above.)

8. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
[2] Non-finite verbs
• a verb form that does not indicate person or number; they
(also called verbals) are gerund, infinitive, and participles.
Infinitives
• Infinitive is a verb form (to + verb) that is used as a noun,
adjective, or adverb. For examples,
– To forgive is the best form of revenge. (Noun)
– He has money to buy a new phone. (Adjective)
– She will realize her plan to study abroad. (Adjective)
– The test was difficult to do. (Adverb)
– She writes to complaint about the product. (Adverb)

9. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
[2] Non-finite verbs
Gerunds
• Gerund is a verb form (verb-ing) that is used as a noun. For
examples,
– Trying hard is a great value.
– Swimming is my favourite.
Participles
• Participle is a verb form (either ends in -ed or -ing) that is
used as an adjective or complement. For examples,
– The book is interesting.
– He is interested in it.

10. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
[3] Helping verbs
• A helping verb is used with main verb to express distinctions
of number, tense, aspect, and mood. There are three types of
helping verbs; as.
Primary auxiliary verbs
• Primary auxiliary verbs are BE, HAVE, and DO. For examples,
– She is playing piano.
– He has studied there for 3 years.
– Do you like coffee?
– He didn’t finish his homework.

11. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
[3] Helping verbs
Semi-modal auxiliary verbs
• Semi-modal auxiliary verbs are NEED, DARE, and USED TO. For
examples,
– He used to smoke a lot.
– She used to be a teacher.
– He need not take his car.
– They need not buy this dress.
– How dare you talk to your boss like that!
– She dare not discuss with her father.

12. Roles of Verbs in Sentences
[3] Helping verbs
Modal verbs
• Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are used to express
modality. They are:
CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, SHALL, SHOULD, OUGHT
TO, WILL, WOULD, and MUST. For examples,
– Can you speak English? [ability]
– May I open the window? [permission]

13. Related Topics:
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Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Adjectives
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Adverbs
Conjunctions
Prepositions
Interjections
My Blogs:
• To read more free lessons, please click the links below:
– http://grammarkit.blogspot.com
– http://thewindlike.blogspot.com

14. MY BOOKS ON KINDLE STORE
Grammar & Composition:
Parts of Speech in English
English Grammar: The Verb Tenses
Phrases and Clauses in English
Short stories:
He Deserves! Sympathy and Love
http://grammarkit.blogspot.com/p/bookstore.html