The Sunday News
Charles Dube
Looking at the above topic, do not just brush it aside as monotonous. Understanding verbs is essential in writing because they are the foundation words of sentences. Every sentence must have a verb. The verb gives the sentence meaning by saying something about the noun or pronoun that is the subject. Verbs can be identified in three ways: by definition, classification; and by features that distinguish verbs from other parts of speech.
Verbs can be defined in various ways. Today we can define it as a word that shows action or a state of being about a noun or pronoun. Here are examples on the definition of a verb: A bus collided with a car. ( collided – action). That game decided the champion. ( decided- action) I am down with flu today. ( I am – state of being) They soon became friends on arrival. (became – state of being) The following sentences help us identify verbs in a number of ways:
Romeo climbed to the top of the mountain. (climbed – action verb). All the books were on the table. (were – state of being).
We planned the menu for our club’s lunch. (planned – action verb). Each of those boys was at school today. (was – state of being). The students concentrated on the test. (concentrated – action verb). We thought hard. (hard – action verb). The actor was on the honour roll. (was – state of being). These twins play chase together well. (play – action verb).
Verbs are usually grouped into three main classes; action verbs, being and linking verbs, and helping verbs at times called auxiliary verbs. These three classes help identify verbs. Verbs that show physical or mental action are called action verbs.
Physical action: John scaled the fence. (scaled – physical action). The fans cheered their team. (cheered – physical action).
Mary drove the car. (drove – physical action). Mental action: We concentrated on the test. (concentrated – mental action). I hope you passed your driver’s licence test. (hope – mental action).
Linking verbs do not show action. They link a noun or pronoun in the first part of a sentence with a word in the second part of a sentence. For example, examine the following sentences: The oranges were sour. (were is the linking verb in this sentence.)
It links the noun (oranges) in the first part of the sentence and delicious a word in the second part of the sentence. She is an actress. (is – is the linking verb, it links the pronoun she in the first part of the sentence with actress in the second part of the sentence.
Helping verbs help the main verb express an action or state of being. Examples: The plane will arrival on schedule. (will is the helping verb. It is helping the main verb arrive express an action.) The pencil has become blunt so it cannot make faint lines. (has is the helping verb). Helping verbs include the forms of (be) such as: am, were, is, are, been, was and other commonly used helping verbs like; has, have, had, do, does, did, may, might, must, can, shall, should, will, would.
In future we will identify main and helping verbs, find verbs by their features, identify verb tenses, identify verbs by their features among other things. Today we move from words commonly confused like apology and excuse to verbs often confused like lie and lay. When a person offers an apology, that person admits to being at fault. When an excuse is made it may be true or untrue. James accepted the stranger’s apology for stepping on his toe. The boy’s excuse for failing the Maths examination was that he was ill.
The verb lie means to (recline) or to (remain lying down.) This verb can be used to describe a person who is relaxing or an object that has been placed to rest. Principal parts under the following headings respectively: Present, past, past participle – lie, lay, (have) lain. The books lie on the table. (lie – present tense). Yesterday the books lay on the table. (lay – past tense). Since noon the books have lain on the table. (present perfect).
The verb lay means “to put or place something.” In using this verb, state the object that is being put or placed down. Present tense (lay) Past test (laid) Past participle (have) laid. The students lay their jackets on the desk. (present). The students laid their jackets on the desk. (past) The students have laid their jackets on the desk. (present perfect)
Sit/Set. The verb sit means “to rest” or “to sit down,” or “to remain undisturbed”. She sits in the last row. She sat in the last row. She has sat in the last row all morning. The verb set means “to put something” or “to place something.” In using this verb, state the object that is being put or placed. Principal parts respectively : Present (set), Past (set) Past Participle (have) set. We set the alarm clock for 5.00 a.m. (present). We set the alarm clock for 5:00 a.m. (past). We have set the alarm clock for 5: 00 a.m.
Rise/Raise. The verb rise means “to get up.” “to go up”, or to arise. Rise describes the motion of someone or something that is going up. Present (rise), Past (rose), (have) risen. Students rise late on weekends. (rise -present). Students rose late on weekends. (rose – past). The students have risen late on weekends. (have risen – present perfect).
The verb raise means “to lift up,” “to force up,” or “to bring up.” In using this verb, state the object that is being lifted, forced up, or brought up. Present (raise), past (raised), past participle – (have) raised. Bull fights raise clouds of dust. (raise – present). Bull fights raised clouds of dust. (raised – past). Bull fights have raised clouds of dust. I know language lessons are uninteresting but we need to understand different forms of language to do better in examinations.
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