Module 1 Concepts: Verbs

A VERB is a form-class word having an [-s] affix in the third-person singular and an [-ing] affix in the present participle form; typically, verbs designate actions, sensations, and states.

The more verb characteristics a word has, the more prototypical it is. A verb like criticize has all eight characteristics:

1. Has a verb-making morpheme: criticize

2. Can occur with a present-tense morpheme: criticizes

3. Can occur with a past-tense morpheme: criticized

4. Can occur with a present-participle morpheme: criticizing

5. Can occur with a past-participle morpheme: had criticized

6. Can be made into a command: Criticize this work!

7. Can be made negative: They did not criticize this work.

8. Fits the frame sentence: They must criticize (it).

Therefore, criticize is a good candidate for a prototypical verb. Many other verbs have more than five of these characteristics, making them also prototypical.

English verbs are made up of five principal parts:

Base Form: the uninflected form and the version of the verb that is listed in a dictionary.

Simple Present-Tense Form: ends in allomorphs of {-s} if the subject is a third-person singular noun phrase (one in which he, she, or it can be substituted).

Simple Past-Tense Form: ends in allopmorphs of {-d}, but with a number of irregular verbs the past tense is indicated by a change of vowel (for example, ride/rode).

Past Participle Form: usually created with an inflection identical with that of the past tense (walked/have walked), but many irregular verbs have -en as the past participle marker (for example, ridden).

Present-Participle Form: always created with -ing.

Verbs can also be categorized as

Intransitive: A verb that has no complement or has an adverb as its complement. A verb in a Type I sentence.

Linking: A verb that is followed by an adverbial, adjectival, or nominal subject complement. A verb in a Type II, Type III, or Type IV sentence.

Transitive: A verb that has a direct object as its complement. A verb in a Type V sentence.

As a sentence constituent, a verb or any group of words that can substitute for a verb is a verb phrase.

Verbal is a word derived from or having characteristics similar to a verb.

Verb particle is a word or words that combine with a verb to create a phrasal verb.

Module 1 Concepts: Auxiliaries

Auxiliary verbs either affect the form of a sentence’s main verb or stand in for a verb phrase. The verbs have, be, and do and the modals can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must make up the structure class of auxiliary verbs.

Auxiliary verbs do not have most of the characteristics of true verbs. Instead, auxiliary verbs function with true verbs to do things like:

alter meaning:

Students pass this test.

Students might pass this test.

express different tenses:

A bright green bird nested there.

A bright green bird has nested there.

A bright green bird had nested  there.

We birdwatch.

We are birdwatching.

We were birdwatching.

create questions:

He leaves tomorrow.

Does he leave tomorrow?

Is he leaving tomorrow?

substitute for verb-phrases:

We want chicken curry more than he wants chicken curry.

We want chicken curry more than he does.

The nine modal auxiliary verbs are can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must. They always precede the main verb as well as any other auxiliaries.

Modal auxiliaries signal specific meanings by modifying the phrase or sentence’s main verb. For example, they can indicate:

probability

Students pass this test.

Students might pass this test.

condition

I swam when I was younger.

I could swim when I was younger.

obligation

You have car insurance.

You must have car insurance.

possibility

I eat breakfast.

I may eat breakfast.

I will eat breakfast.

Modal auxiliaries do not have many of the characteristics of true verbs. They cannot take tense morphemes or be made into commands or negatives.

No tense morphemes (present-tense, past-tense, past-participle, present-participle):

*She coulds run a marathon.

*I mighted have eaten.

*You shoulden walk alone at night.

No commands:

*Would eat your breakfast!

*Shall go to bed!

No negatives:

She cannot eat. à In this case, not negates the main verb eat. Without that verb, you don’t know what she cannot do.

You may not run with scissors. à In this case, not negates the main verb run. Without that verb, you don’t know what you may not do.

The auxiliary have occurs before the past participle of a true verb in order to express:

the present-perfect tense

A bright green bird has nested there.

The judges have voted.

the past-perfect tense

A bright green bird had nested there.

The judges had voted.

Caution: Have can act as a true verb as well as an auxiliary:

• I have chicken pox.

• She has all the latest gadgets.

• I had my favorite meal for my birthday.

• The Smiths had a baby.

You can tell have is acting as an auxiliary if it precedes a true verb to create a perfect form.

The auxiliary be occurs before the present participle of a true verb in order to express:

the present-progressive form

Harvey is cooking squash.

the past-progressive tenses

Harvey was cooking squash.

the passive voice

The National Anthem is sung by the whole crowd.

Caution: Be can act as a true verb as well as an auxiliary:

• Keoni is a student.

• The lawyers were all in court.

You can tell be is acting as an auxiliary if it precedes a true verb to create a progressive form or the passive voice.

The auxiliary do occurs in a number of grammatical processes, including:

creating questions:

He leaves tomorrow.

Does he leave tomorrow?

forming negatives:

He wants curry for dinner.

He doesn’t want curry for dinner.

placing emphasis on the verb:

This tastes delicious.

This does taste delicious!

substituting for verb-phrases:

We want chicken curry more than they want chicken curry.

We want chicken curry more than they do.

Caution: Do can also act as a true verb with a number of meanings:

• Shawna did her own make-up.

• That meal did me a world of good.

• You will do as you’re told.